Keji Li

Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology
2301, Vanderbilt place
Nashville, TN 37240-7817
Phone: (615) 818-7103
Email: mail@keji.li
Homepage: http://keji.li
Education
2009 B.S. Fudan University (Biology, major)
Positions
2007-2009 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Shou lab
(PI: Dr. Tiande Shou), Department of
Biophysics, Fudan University
2009-present Graduate Student, Department of Psychology,
Vanderbilt University
Funding
2009-2014 R01 EY01778-36 (Casagrande) NIH/NEI
Role: Graduate Student
Visual System Organization and Development
Honors and Awards
2013 Fine Science Tools travel award for SfN annual conference in San Diego
Professional Societies
Society for Neuroscience
Middle Tennessee Chapter for Society for Neuroscience
Research Statement
My general interest is in the mechanisms of interaction between cortical and subcortical
feedback and feedforward pathways in the cortex, and how these interactions modify and
regulate sensory information. The general connections of the early visual system are relatively
well-studied, making it the best place to start looking for a comprehensive understanding of how
information is transmitted, transformed and regulated in the cortex, the type of computations
carried out in the cortex and the underlying circuitry responsible. In this context, my current
project focuses on the functional role of the visual pulvinar in regulating visual information
processing in early visual cortical areas. My thesis has two main aims and includes several
smaller related projects.
In a previous project my colleagues and I revealed a strong excitatory modulation by the lateral
pulvinar on the output cells of the primary visual cortex (V1), despite the fact that complete
removal of V1 turns off the visual response of pulvinar neurons, and despite the fact that most of
the input to V1 from pulvinar terminates in layer 1. Input to layer 1 is typically associated with
weak modulation. The rst part of my current thesis project attempts to reveal the mechanism of
this strong projection, by looking at the morphology of pulvinar's axon arbors and synapses in V1
layer 1, and by examining the post-synaptic targets of this projection. Here I am examining several
hypotheses to explain how the projection from pulvinar to V1 is able to lift the strong inhibition
intrinsic to the output cells of V1 and thus allow the visual message to go forward to extrastriate
target areas.
The second main component of my thesis examines the functional signicance of pulvinar's
projection to the middle temporal area (MT). Area (MT) is the gatehouse to the dorsal (motion)
stream of the traditional cortical hierarchy. MT responds to directional motion even after near
complete V1 ablation. From previous work in my current lab, and that of others, it is clear that
pulvinar provides a major input to MT terminating in layer 4. My colleagues and I examined the
change in the spontaneous and visually evoked activity of layer 2/3 MT output cells when
pulvinar is pharmacologically activated (with glutamate), both with and without an intact
pulvinar-V1-MT relay. We identied an inhibitory effect of the direct pulvinar-MT projection,
although with V1 intact pulvinar's excitatory projection to V1 dominates the pulvinar-MT
interaction through a strong excitatory V1 to MT projection.
Beyond the main projects outlined above, I have been retinotopically mapping the more medial
(and lesser known) portions of the primate pulvinar, which include the dorsal medial pulvinar
(Pdm, known for its role in visual attention) and the medial inferior pulvinar (known for its
connections with both MT and the superior colliculus). A side project is also underway to compare
the strength of various projections in the early visual system as reected by their bouton sizes
and other axonal/synaptic morphological features.
Skills
I have used a variety of experimental approaches to address the questions in my current and
previous projects. These approaches include single electrode and multielectrode array (linear and
10 by 10 grid) extracellular recording, light, confocal and electron microscopy in qualitative and
quantitative examination of neuronal circuits, axon and synaptic morphology. I have used optical
imaging of intrinsic signals to record cortical activity and locate specic cortical areas in both
cats and primates. In my current projects I have also used optogenetic and pharmacological
manipulation of brain areas to examine functional connections.
Other skills I have acquired to help with my research include:
Statistical analysis and modeling
Basic numerical modeling
Design and programming of visual stimuli on various computer controlled systems
Programming in Python, Matlab, C, and R prociently
Programming in Java and Haskell acceptably (with Java Developer Certicate)
Teaching Experience
2012 Teaching
Assistant
BSCI 258 Vertebrate Physiology, Vanderbilt
University
with Dr. Clint Carter
Give lectures on central nervous system, write and grade test questions based on
these lectures
2014 Teaching
Assistant
PSY 208 Principles of Experimental Design,
Vanderbilt University
with Dr. Elisabeth
Sandberg
Direct group projects, grade homeworks and exams, and hold review sessions
2011-2013 Teaching
Assistant
NSC 201 Neuroscience, Vanderbilt
University
with Dr. Leslie
Smith
Hold review sessions and grade exams
Publications
Journal Articles
Purushothaman, G., Marion, R.T., Li, K., Casagrande, V.A. (2012). Gating and control of primary
visual cortex by pulvinar. Nature Neuroscience, 15(6), 905-912
Marion, R., Li, K., Purushothaman, G., Jiang, Y., Casagrande, V.A. (2012) Morphological and
neurochemical comparisons between pulvinar and V1 projections to V2. Journal of
Comparative Neurology, 521, 813-832
Li, K., Patel, J., Purushothaman, G., Marion, R.T., Casagrande, V.A. (2013). Retinotopic maps in
the pulvinar of bush baby (Otolemur garnettii). Journal of Comparative Neurology, 521,
3432-3450
Proceedings
Purushothaman, G., Marion R., Walston S., Li, K., Yampolsky D., Jiang Y., Casagrande V. (2010).
Functional role of pulvinar input to primary visual cortex in the primate. Program No. 126.5,
2010 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner, Society for Neuroscience.
Purushothaman, G., Marion R., Walston S., Li, K., Yampolsky D., Jiang Y., Casagrande V. (2011)
Visual information processing in the absence of pulvinar input. Journal of Vision 11: 171.
Marion, R.T., Li, K., Purushothaman, G., Yampolsky, D., Jiang, Y., Mavity-Hudson, J.M.,
Casagrande, V.A. (2011) A quantitative comparison between geniculate axons in V1 and
pulvinar axons in V2. Program No. 428.11, 2011 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner, Society for
Neuroscience.
Purushothaman, G., Li, K., Marion, R.T., Yampolsky, D., Jiang, Y., Casagrande, V.A. (2011)
Lateral Pulvinar and the salience of stimulus representation in primary visual cortex.
Program No. 482.02, 2011 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner, Society for Neuroscience.
Li, K., Patel, J., Purushothaman, G., Marion, R.T., Yampolsky, D., Jiang, Y., Mavity-Hudson, J.A.,
Casagrande, V.A. (2011) Retinotopic organization of pulvinar in a prosimian primate.
Program No. 269.20, 2011 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner, Society for Neuroscience.
Purushothaman, G., Marion, R., Li, K.., Casagrande, V.A. (2012) Gating of the Primary Visual
Cortex by Pulvinar for Controlling Bottom-Up Salience. Journal of Vision, 12: 1370.
Patel, J., Koo, M., Li, K., Mavity-Hudson, J.A., Marion, R.T., Purushothaman, G., Yampolsky, D.,
Jiang, Y., Casagrande, V.A. (2012) The distribution of synapsin I & II in the visual thalamus of
bush babies. Program No. 880.26, 2012 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner, Society for
Neuroscience.
Li, K., Patel, J., Purushothaman, G., Marion, R.T., Casagrande, V.A. (2013) The Retinotopy of a
Prosimian (Bush Baby) Pulvinar. Journal of Vision 53: 455.
Li, K., Purushothaman, G., Marion, R.T., Jiang, Y., Yampolsky, D., Mavity-Hudson, J.A.,
Casagrande, V.A. (2013) Pulvinar affects the middle temporal area (MT) activity in primate.
Program No. 360.23, 2013 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner, Society for Neuroscience.
Li, K., Purushothaman, G., Mavity-Hudson, J.A., Jiang, Y., Yampolsky, D. and Casagrande, V.A.
(2014) Mechanisms of pulvinar control of the primary visual cortex (V1). Society for
Neuroscience (in press).
Marion, R., Li, K., Mavity-Hudson, J.A. and Casagrande, V.A. (2014) Morphological comparison
of inputs to primate visual areas MT, V1 and V2. Society for Neuroscience (in press).