Henry Yin

Henry Yin is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Professor in Neurobiology at Duke University's School of Medicine. He serves as an Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center and Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. His research program focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying goal-directed actions, combining behavioral analysis with electrophysiological techniques and molecular biology tools.

Dr. Yin's research interests center on the neural circuitry of goal-directed behavior, with particular emphasis on the basal ganglia, dopamine signaling, and motor control systems. His laboratory employs a highly integrative approach that includes dissecting reward-guided behavior using analytical behavioral assays, in vivo recording from multiple brain areas including cerebral cortex, thalamus, midbrain, and basal ganglia, and in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recording in brain slices. His work has significant implications for understanding pathological conditions characterized by impaired goal-directed behaviors, such as drug addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on neural circuit mechanisms underlying motor control, effort-based decision making, and habit formation. His research spans multiple levels of analysis from molecular and cellular neuroscience to systems neuroscience and behavioral analysis. Key themes include the role of specific neuronal populations in action selection, the neural coding of behavioral variables, and the circuit mechanisms underlying pathological conditions affecting goal-directed behavior.

• McKnight Endowment Award (2013)

Dr. Yin has secured substantial research funding including grants such as 'The role of the ventral tegmental area in motivated behavior' (2025-2030), 'Neurobiology Training Program' (2024-2029), and 'Dissecting basal ganglia circuit mechanisms underlying instrumental learning' (2022-2027). His laboratory employs advanced techniques including in vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics, calcium imaging, and behavioral analysis to investigate neural circuit function.