Xiaoke Chen

Xiaoke Chen is a Lecturer in the Department of Biology at Stanford University. Their research focuses on brain circuits mediating motivated behaviors, including addiction, pain, and depression. Chen's work explores the neural mechanisms underlying these complex behaviors. They are affiliated with the Department of Biology and maintain an external profile page at https://biology.stanford.edu/people/xiaoke-chen.

Xiaoke Chen, a neuroscience researcher at Stanford University, focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying sensory processing and behavior. Their work explores how the brain encodes taste, temperature, and pain signals, with a particular emphasis on the role of specific brain regions and neurotransmitter systems. Chen's research integrates electrophysiology, imaging, and molecular techniques to uncover the cellular and circuit-level logic of sensory coding. Key areas of investigation include the gustotopic map of taste qualities, the role of thalamic circuits in opiate dependence, and the dynamics of salience processing. Their studies also examine the function of ion channels and neurotransmitter release in sensory and emotional behaviors.