Wenchang Li

Dr. Wenchang Li is a Professor at the School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews. His research focuses on the neuronal mechanisms underlying motor control and neural development in tadpoles, using electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, and computational modeling. Dr. Li's work explores how neural circuits control locomotion, decision-making, and sensory responses in vertebrates.

His research interests include the role of interneurons in rhythm generation, neurotransmitter corelease in development, and the impact of neural maturation on motor behavior. He collaborates with institutions such as the University of Bristol and Plymouth University, advancing our understanding of spinal cord and hindbrain circuitry.

Dr. Li has secured prestigious awards including the Royal Society University Research Fellowship. His lab currently supervises PhD students Yi Lou and Valentina Saccomanno, with past members including Dr. Peter Moult and Dr. Erik Svensson. Key publications highlight discoveries in neural circuitry, locomotion termination, and decision-making mechanisms in tadpoles.

Research projects include studying the recruitment of inhibitory interneurons in swimming behavior and modeling sensory-driven motor decisions. His work bridges basic neuroscience with translational insights into developmental plasticity and neural disorders.