Research

We are interested in understanding the neural circuits of visual perception, attention, and emotion in the nonhuman primates, and how we can regulate these basic functions through manipulating the activities of specific neurons or pathways.
To this end, we use several novel neuromodulation techniques including optogenetics, chemogenetics, in combination with electrophysiological and brain imaging techniques, to uncover how visual information is encoded in the brain, how attention modulates perception, how emotion interacts with cognition, and how these functions can be manipulated in the behaving monkeys. Eventually, we hope our findings can help to pave the way for extensively translational studies and clinical application in the near future.

Biography

2017.10–present, Principial Investigator (PI) at SIAT, CAS
2014.10–2017.9, Associate Professor at Institute of Psychology, CAS
2010.9–2015.2, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brown University
2003.9–2010.1, Institute of Biophysics, CAS, PhD
1999-9–2003.6, Nanjing University, B.S

Honors

1.&nbspTop 10 Scientific Advances in Life Sciences of China, 2024

2.&nbspTop 10 events in Shenzhen’s Technological Innovation, 2024

3.&nbspSignificant Progress of Chinese Neuroscience Society, 2023

Selected publications

(^*corresponding author; ^#co-first author)

Feature articles：

1. Yefei Chen^#, Zexuan Hong^#, Jingyi Wang, Kunlin Liu, Jing Liu, Jianbang Lin, Shijing Feng, Tianhui Zhang, Liang Shan, Taian Liu, Pinyue Guo, Yunping Lin, Tian Li, Qian Chen, Xiaodan Jiang, Anan Li, Xiang Li, Yuantao Li, Jonathan Wilde, Jin Bao^*, Ji Dai^*, and Zhonghua Lu^*. “Circuit-Specific Gene Therapy Reverses Core Symptoms in a Primate Parkinson’s Disease Model”, Cell,2023, 186 (24): 5394-5410.e18. Doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.004.
2. Xinhe Liu, Zhiting Zhang, Lu Gan, Panke Yu, Ji Dai*. “Medium Spiny Neurons Mediate Timing Perception in Coordination with Prefrontal Neurons in Primates”, Advanced Science, 2025, 2412963. Doi: 10.1002/advs.202412963.
3. Li Wang#, Bo Zhang#, Xiqian Lu, Ruidi Wang, Jian Ma, Yujie Chen, Yuan Zhou, Ji Dai*, Yi Jiang*. “Genetic and Neuronal Basis for Facial Emotion Perception in Humans and Macaques”, National Science Review, 2024 11(11), nwae381. Doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwae381.
4. Zhiting Zhang^#, Liang Shan^#, Yuyin Wang^#, Wenfang Li, Minqing Jiang, Feng Liang, Shijing Feng, Zhonghua Lu, Hong Wang^*, Ji Dai^*. “Primate Preoptic Neurons Drive Hypothermia and Cold Defense”. The Innovation, 2023, 4:100358. Doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2022.100358.
5. Liang Shan^#,*, Hui Huang^#, Zhiting Zhang, Yuyin Wang, Fei Gu, Mingwei Lu, Wen Zhou, Yi Jiang^*, Ji Dai^*, “Mapping the Emergence of Visual Consciousness in the Human Brain via Brain-wide Intracranial Electrophysiology”, The Innovation,2022, 3:100243. Doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2022.100243.

Other Peer-reviewed publications:

6. Xinhe Liu, Zhiting Zhang, Ji Dai*. “Evaluating Pupillometry as a Tool for Assessing Facial and Emotional Processing in Nonhuman Primates”, Applied Science, 2025 (accepted)
7. Lu Gan, Zhilin Zhang, Zhiting Zhang, Jinglong Wu*, Ji Dai*, Shintaro Funahashi*.  “What Task Feature Determines the Winning Task in Dual-Task Conditions?”, eNeuro, 2025 (accepted)
8. Ji Dai^#, Huiyu Xu^#, Tao Chen^#, et al., “Artificial intelligence for medicine 2025: Endless frontier”, The Innovation Medicine, 2025 (accepted)
9. Haijun Wang^#, Ji Dai^#, Yuanzheng Cui, Peijun Zhang, Fang Wang*, Buxing Han*, Erik Jeppesen. “Shaping the future of academic conferences”, The Innovation, 2025, 1:100738. Doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100738.
10. Ling Li, Shenglin Wen*, Ji Dai*. “The Current State and Future Outlook of PET Tracers for AMPA Receptors”, Neuroscience Bulletin, 2025.Doi: 1007/s12264-024-01332-w.
11. Ming Luo*, Wenyu Yang, Long Bai, et al. “Artificial intelligence for life sciences: A comprehensive guide and future trends”, The Innovation Life, 2024, 2:100105.
12. Zhiting Zhang, Ji Dai*. “Fully implantable wireless brain-computer interface for humans: Advancing toward the future”, The Innovation, 2024, 5:100595.
13. Yefei Chen^#, Jingyi Wang^#, Jing Liu^#, Jianbang Lin, Yunping Lin, Jinyao Nie, Qi Yue, Chunshan Deng, Xiaofei Qi, Yuantao Li, Ji Dai^*, Zhonghua Lu^*. “A Novel Retrograde AAV Variant for Functional Manipulation of Cortical Projection Neurons in Mice and Monkeys”, Neuroscience Bulletin,2024, 40(1):90-102.
14. Ji Dai*. “Pursue the nature of science: Advocate for a better research environment”, The Innovation, 2024, 5:100686.
15. Tiantian Li^#, Tao Huang^#, Ning Xiao^#, Ji Dai^*. “Innovative medicine and health management: A special session of The Innovation Conference 2024”, The Innovation Medicine, 2024, 2:100088.
16. Xiayi Feng, Ding Gao, Juan Zhou, Zhu Gui, Aoling Cai, Jie Wang, Ji Dai, Yipeng Jing, Junchao Qian, Zongqiang Cui, Lanxiang Li, Yue You, Luyi Tian, Xian-En Zhang, Dong Men. “Viral capsid-mediated efficient cell labeling of micron-sized magnetic particles for highly sensitive long-term in vivo tumor cells MRI tracking”. Chemical Engineering Journal,2024, 498: 155830.
17. Li M^#, Guan M^#, Lin J^#, Zhu K^#, Zhu J, Guo M, Li Y, Chen Y, Chen Y, Zou Y, Wu D, Xu J, Yi W, Fan Y, Ma S, Chen Y, Xu J, Yang L, Dai J, Ye T^*, Lu Z^*, Chen Y*. “Early blood immune molecular alterations in cynomolgus monkeys with a PSEN1 mutation causing familial Alzheimer's disease”, Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2024, 20(8):5492-5510. doi: 10.1002/alz.14046.
18. Jiao J^#, Xu D^#, Kong Y^#*, Cao Y^#, Wang L, Hong Y, Li L, Gao C, Liu J, Zhang G, Zhou J, Dai J,Lu Z, Liu Y, Wang Y^*, Zhang Z^*. “circFKBP8(5S,6)-encoded protein as a novel endogenous regulator in major depressive disorder by inhibiting glucocorticoid receptor nucleus translocation”, Science Bulletin, 2024: S2095-9273(24)00446-8. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.06.021.
19. Gaojia Zhang^#, Ling Li^#, Yan Kong^#,*, Dandan Xu, Yu Bao, Zhiting Zhang, Zhixiang Liao, Jiao Jiao, Dandan Fan, Xiaojing Long, Ji Dai, Chunming Xie, Zhiqiang Meng^*, Zhijun Zhang^*. “Vitamin D-binding protein in plasma microglia-derived extracellular vesicles as a potential biomarker for major depressive disorder”,Genes & Disease, 2024, 11(2):1009-1021.
20. Liang Shan^#, Liu Yuan^#, Bo Zhang^#, Jian Ma, Xiao Xu, Fei Gu, Yi Jiang^*, Ji Dai^*. “Neural Integration of Audiovisual Sensory Inputs in Macaque Amygdala and Adjacent Regions”, Neuroscience Bulletin, 2023, 39(12):1749−1761. (Cover article)
21. Jingyi Wang^#, Jianbang Lin^#, Yefei Chen^#, Jing Liu, Qiongping Zheng, Mao Deng, Ruiqi Wang, Yujing Zhang, Shijing Feng, Zhenyan Xu, Weiyi Ye, Yu Hu, Jiamei Duan, Yunping Lin, Ji Dai, Yu Chen, Yuantao Li, Tao Luo, Qian Chen^*, and Zhonghua Lu*. “An Ultra-Compact Promoter Drives Widespread Neuronal Expression in Mouse and Monkey Brains”, Cell Reports, 2023, 42:113348.
22. Panke Yu^#, Zhiting Zhang^#, Yuyin Wang, Ji Dai*. “Protocol for MRI-guided virus injection in macaque deep brain regions”, STAR Protocols, 2023, 4:102768.
23. Chunshan Deng, Xiaojian Li, Ji Dai*. “Challenges for translating implantable brain-computer interface to medical device”, The Innovation Medicine, 2023, 1:100040.
24. Xinhe Liu, Lu Gan, Zhiting Zhang, Panke Yu, Ji Dai^*. “Probing the Processing of Facial Expression via Time Perception and Eye Tracking in Monkeys”, Zoological Research, 2023, 44(5):882-893.
25. Ji Dai^*, Xin Cao, Yong Han, Tianbin Song, Yuming Guo, Jie Qiao. “The Innovation Medicine: An international journal of medical science”, The Innovation Medicine, 2023, 1:100001.
26. Ji Dai^*, “Launching from Earth”, The Innovation, 2023, 4:100430.
27. Ying Zhang^#*, Dheeraj Roy^#*, Yi Zhu, Yefei Chen, Tomomi Aida, Yuanyuan Hou, Chenjie Shen, Nicholas Lea, Margaret Schroeder, Keith Skaggs, Heather Sullivan, Kyle Fischer, Edward Callaway, Ian Wickersham, Ji Dai,Xiao-Ming Li, Zhonghua Lu, Guoping Feng^*. “Targeting thalamic circuits rescues motor and mood deficits in PD mice”, Nature, 2022, 607: 321-329.
28. Lu Gan, Jinglong Wu, Ji Dai^*, Shintaro Funahashi^*. “The Mechanism for Allocating Limited Working Memory Resources in Multitasking”, Neuroscience Bulletin, 2022, 38(7):829-833.
29. Jiani Chen, Liang Shan, Ji Dai^*. “Distinct Recovery Process of Consciousness and Cognition after Anesthesia”, Neuroscience Bulletin, 2022, 38(1): 110-112.
30. Yongjun Xu, Qi Wang, Zhulin An, et al., “Artificial Intelligence: A Powerful Paradigm for Scientific Research”. The Innovation, 2021, 2:100179.
31. Ji Dai^*. “Gaining a Better Understanding of Nonhuman Primate Research”, Science Bulletin, 2021, 66(15):1499-1501.
32. Yuxuan Yao, Ji Dai^*. “Naturally Occurring Parkinson’s Disease Raises the Need for Nonhuman Primate in Neurodegenerative Diseases Research”, Neuroscience Bulletin, 2021, 37(8):1267-1269.
33. Tremblay S, Acker L, Afraz A, et al., “An Open Resource for Non-human Primate Optogenetics”. Neuron. 2020, 108(6):1075-1090.e6.
34. Chunshan Deng, Hong Yuan, Ji Dai^*. “Behavioral Manipulation by Optogenetics in the Nonhuman Primate”, The Neuroscientist, 2018, 24(5): 526-539.
35. Ji Dai, Yi Wang. “Contrast coding in the primary visual cortex depends on temporal contexts”, European Journal of Neuroscience. 2018, 47(8): 947-58.
36. Bo Zhang, Ji Dai^*, Tao Zhang. “NeoAnalysis: A Python-Based Toolbox for Quick Electrophysiological Data Processing and Analysis”. Biomedical Engineering Online. 2017, 16:129.
37. Ji Dai^*,Tao Zhang. “The progress of optogenetic studies in nonhuman primates”, Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2016, 43(4): 354-360.
38. Ji Dai,Ilker Ozden, Daniel I. Brooks, Fabien Wagner, Travis May, Naubahar Agha, Benjamin Brush, David Borton, Arto V. Nurmikko, David L. Sheinberg “Modified toolbox for optogenetics in the nonhuman primate”, Neurophotonics, 2015, 2(3), 031202.
39. Ji Dai, Daniel I. Brooks, David L. Sheinberg. “Optogenetic and electrical microstimulation systematically bias visuospatial choice in primates”. Current Biology, 2014 Jan 6;24(1):63-9.
40. Ji Daiand Yi Wang. “Representation of Surface Luminance and Contrast in Primary Visual Cortex”, Cerebral Cortex. 2012, 22(4):776-87.