Research

Research interests

Our brains are remarkable at making continuous decisions based on sensory input, often seamlessly. Even in a simple task, such as walking on a trail, we are able to instantaneously decode the visual space before us and move our feet to propel ourselves forward. However, how the brain effectively translates sensory evidence into actionable outcomes is not well understood. Using vision as the sensory model for information processing, I’m interested in the (1) involvement of the visual cortex in encoding and decoding behavior-relevant features and (2) the neural mechanisms that underlie sensory-to-action translation downstream. To this end, I employ a combination of behavioral assays, electrophysiology, 2-photon microscopy, wide-field calcium imaging, intrinsic signal imaging, genetic tools, and computational methods.

Publications

Rhim I, Nauhaus I. Joint representations of color and form in mouse visual cortex described by random pooling from rods and cones. (2023) Journal of Neurophysiology.

Lee E, Lee S, Shin JJ, Choi W, Chung C, Lee S, Kim J, Ha S, Kim R, Yoo T, Yoo Y-E, Kim J, Noh YW, Rhim I, Lee SY, Kim W, et al. Excitatory synapses and gap junctions cooperate to improve Pv neuronal burst firing and cortical social cognition in Shank2-mutant mice. (2021) Nature Communications.

Rhim I, Coello-Reyes G, Nauhaus I. Variations in photoreceptor throughput to mouse visual cortex and the unique effects on tuning. (2021) Scientific Report.

Jung H, Park H, Choi Y, Kang H, Lee E, Kweon H, Roh JD, Ellegood J, Choi W, Kang J, Rhim I, Choi SY, Bae M, Kim SG, Lee J, et al. Sexually dimorphic behavior, neuronal activity, and gene expression in Chd8-mutant mice. (2018) Nature Neuroscience.

Rhim I, Coello-Reyes G, Ko HK, Nauhaus I. Maps of cone opsin input to mouse V1 and higher visual areas. (2017) Journal of Neurophysiology.

Lee E*, Rhim I*, Lee JW, Ghim JW, Lee S, Kim E, Jung MW. Enhanced neuronal activity in the medial prefrontal cortex during social approach behavior. (2016) The Journal of Neuroscience.

Chung W, Choi SY, Lee E, Park H, Kang J, Park H, Choi Y, Lee D, Park SG, Kim R, Cho YS, Choi J, Kim MH, Lee JW, Lee S, Rhim I, Jung MW, Kim D, Bae YC, Kim E. Social deficits in IRSp53 mutant mice improved by NMDAR and mGluR5 suppression. (2015) Nature Neuroscience.