Education
Ph.D., University of Texas, Graduate School of Biomedical Science at Houston
Research
The primate visual system is composed of more than 30 cortical areas and sub-cortical structures. Each cortical area and sub-cortical structure in turn comprises multiple layers. It is one of the most challenging questions in neuroscience that how this multi-stage system processes information received by the eyes and produces our visual perception. My laboratory tackles this question by studying the neural mechanism of color vision. With training in both electronics and neuroscience, I have been studying the primate visual cortex for 20 years by combining neurobiological and computational approaches.
Our previous work with optical imaging of intrinsic signal found that color is represented by spatially organized maps in visual areas V1 and V2. Within each of these hue maps, different colors activate overlapping but spatially shifted regions, and the spatial shift is correlated with perceptual shift of the stimuli. These hue maps are likely the origin of hue maps in higher visual areas where electrical stimulation elicits the precept of specific colors. Using multi-channel electrode recoding system and information-theory based analysis, we are currently addressing how the multi-layer circuit in V1 constructs the color maps, what features are added to color maps in V2 relative to those in V1, and how the addition or refinery is accomplished by the circuit in V2. Answers to these questions are critical for the understanding of function of different areas and layers, which in turn is important for diagnosis and treatment of cortical deficits and the development of neural prosthesis. In addition, we are developing cortical vision prosthesis with optogenetics. This novel approach has enormous therapeutic potential for blind patients, especially those without a functioning retina.
Research Interests
- Neural mechanism of color vision
- Encoding, decoding, and processing of information by mammalian visual system
- Advanced techniques of brain image analysis
- Vision prosthesis
Publications
Xiao Y, Kavanau C, Bertin L, Kaplan E. The biological basis of a universal constraint on color naming: cone contrasts and the two-way categorization of colors. PloS one 2011; 6(9).
Cecchi GA, Rao AR, Xiao Y, Kaplan E. Statistics of natural scenes and cortical color processing. Journal of vision 2010; 10(11).
Babadi B, Casti A, Xiao Y, Kaplan E, Paninski L. A generalized linear model of the impact of direct and indirect inputs to the lateral geniculate nucleus. Journal of vision 2010; 10(10).
Lim H, Wang Y, Xiao Y, Hu M, Felleman DJ. Organization of hue selectivity in macaque V2 thin stripes. Journal of neurophysiology 2009 Nov; 102(5).
Xiao Y, Kaplan E. Information about color and orientation in the primate visual cortex. In: Rao R, Cecchi G, editors. High Throughput Image Analysis and Reconstruction. Artech House Publishing;.
Xiao Y, Rao R, Cecchi G, Kaplan E. Improved mapping of information distribution across the cortical surface with the Support Vector Machine. Neural Network 2008; 21(2-3).
Casti A, Hayot F, Xiao Y, Kaplan E. A simple model of retina-LGN transmission. The JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE 2008; 24(2).
Xiao Y, Rao R, Cecchi G, Kaplan E. Cortical representation of information about visual attributes: one network or many?. Proceedings of International Joint Conference of Neural Network 2007;.
Xiao y, Casti A, Xiao J, Kaplan E. Hue maps in primate striate cortex. NeuroImage 2007; 35: Y.
Wang Y, Xiao Y, Felleman DJ. V2 Thin Stripes Contain Spatially Organized Representations of Achromatic Luminance Change. Cerebral Cortex 2007; 17(1).
Xiao Y, Felleman DJ. Projections from Primary Visual Cortex to Cytochrome Oxidase Thin Stripes and Interstripes of Macaque Visual Area 2. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2004; 101.
Xiao Y, Wang Y, Felleman DJ. A spatially organized representation of color in macaque area V2. Nature 2003; 421.
Xiao Y, Felleman Dj. Segregation and convergence of projections from functionally identified V2 stripes to V4 in Macaques. Cerebral Cortex 1999; 9.
Felleman Dj, Xiao Y, McClendon E. Modular organization of occipito-temporal pathway: cortical connections between visual area 4 and visual area 2 and posterior inferotemporal ventral area in macaque monkeys. The Journal of Neuroscience 1997; 17.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Xiao did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2012 and/or 2013: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
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