Harel Shouval

Harel Shouval is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and a Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Rice University. His office is located in the McGovern Medical School Building (MSB) 7.264, and he can be reached at 713-500-5708 or harel.shouval@uth.tmc.edu.

Dr. Shouval's research focuses on identifying the rules by which changes in synaptic strength—believed to be the basis of learning, memory, and development in the cortex—take place. His work spans multiple levels of analysis, from molecular mechanisms to functional implications, with an emphasis on theoretical and computational approaches. Key areas of investigation include:

• The molecular basis of synaptic plasticity, including complex simulations of signal transduction pathways and calcium dynamics
• Development of simplified cellular models of synaptic plasticity, such as his unified calcium-dependent plasticity model
• The contribution of synaptic plasticity to receptive field development in visual cortex
• Long-range horizontal connections in visual cortex and their role in map formation
• The stability mechanisms of long-term synaptic plasticity

His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on computational and theoretical aspects of synaptic plasticity. Dr. Shouval's work bridges molecular neuroscience with systems-level understanding, particularly through his development of the unified calcium-dependent plasticity model that accounts for various induction paradigms including spike time-dependent plasticity. His research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between neuroscience, electrical engineering, and computational modeling, with applications to understanding learning, memory, and developmental processes in neural circuits.

Dr. Shouval teaches courses in theoretical neuroscience at both institutions, including 'Theoretical Neuroscience I: Cells, Circuits and Systems' and 'Theoretical Neuroscience II: Learning, Perception and Cognition.' His teaching spans from biophysical foundations of neuronal cells to advanced topics in learning, perception, and cognition, reflecting his integrated approach to neuroscience education.

The Shouval Lab for Theoretical Neuroscience maintains an active research program investigating the fundamental mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. The lab has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have contributed to the field of theoretical neuroscience, as indicated by the 'Former Graduate Students' and 'Former Postdoctoral Fellows' sections on the lab website.