Helen Hou

Helen Hou is an Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where she leads research on neural control of facial expressions. Her lab investigates how the brain orchestrates motor control in natural behaviors through brainstem pathways.

Research combines electrophysiology, imaging, and computational approaches to study emotion expression conserved across mammals. Current projects examine facial nucleus circuitry and its modulation by emotional states, with implications for affective disorders.

Honors include the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowship and NARSAD Young Investigator Award. Public engagement includes collaborations with performing artists exploring science-emotion connections.