Group leader
Research overview
The Sah lab investigates the neural basis of learning and memory, with a focus on synaptic plasticity. This fundamental mechanism enables the brain to adapt, store information, and shape behaviour.
Mapping Brain Circuits
Using a multidisciplinary approach, the lab combines electrophysiology, molecular neuroscience, behavioural models, and optogenetics to study how neural circuits function during learning. A key focus is the amygdala, a brain region critical for emotional and associative memory. The team examines how the amygdala interacts with the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus to process sensory and emotionally significant information, particularly through fear conditioning models.
The lab's approach extends from fundamental circuit discovery to real-world clinical application. By identifying how neural pathways encode and retrieve memories, the research provides insight into the biological basis of behaviour.
Latest news
- The Sah Laboratory is working on the development of a smart wireless glove to monitor muscle function in patients with neurological movement disorders, primarily Parkinson’s disease. We sat down and asked Professor Sah about the potential for this exciting new technology.
- University of Queensland (UQ) researcher Dr Margreet Ridder has been named the inaugural Dr Ian Davis OAM Award recipient for the 2024 top-ranked FightMND project.
- Director of the Queensland Brain Institute, Professor Pankaj Sah, has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in recognition of his exceptional contribution to neuroscience