Welcome to Neuroglial Epigenetic Auditory Function Lab

 The Neuroglial Epigenetic Auditory Function (NEAF) Lab is a collaborative neuroscience research group dedicated to unraveling experience-dependent neuroplasticity in the auditory system, both in health and disease. Our lab is directed by Dr. Aysegul Gungor Aydin and is located at the Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey.
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We welcome enthusiastic graduate and undergraduate researchers from Rutgers University, Seton Hall, and 
​Drew University to join us in exploring the fascinating world of auditory neuroscience. 

Decoding the Auditory System:
From Genes to Behavior in Health and Disease
The melody of a bird’s song, the rhythmic flow of words in another language, or the sound of our own names -each learned auditory stimulus carries profound meaning, shaping how we interpret and respond to the world around us. Our auditory system seamlessly discriminates and identifies sounds for comprehension – allowing us to understand the meanings of specific sounds. But how does the auditory system distinguish significant sounds from the insignificant? How do we encode learned auditory information? And how are cortical and subcortical auditory regions re-tuned through experience? 

​​Our laboratory aims to understand and identify the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying experience-dependent neuroplasticity in the auditory system, with the goal of promoting behavioral functions affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. Towards this, we integrate multi-level processes across epigenetics, circuits, and systems.
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​Despite our knowledge of the diversity of neurons and their roles in auditory function in the mammalian brain being highly advanced, we remain largely ignorant of the most abundant cell types - astrocytes- and their function in the auditory cortex.  How do astrocytes regulate auditory neural circuits and behavior? Our goal is to expand the field of auditory neuroscience beyond its neuron-centric focus by investigating the role of neuroglial networks in synaptic plasticity, with the aim of targeting them to promote circuit plasticity for adaptive sound-cued behavior.

News from NEAF Lab 
January 2025
December 2025
  • Faiza has been accepted to the 2026 entering class at Rowan-Virua School of Medicine! Huge Congratulations, Faiza- Class of 2030!
  • Our first abstract has been selected for a poster presentation at the 17th International Neurobiology and Brain Conference (INBBC) in Naples, Italy!​
  • We celebrated our very FIRST holiday & Lab Anniversary!
October 2025
  •  NEAF lab submitted the first abstract to INBBS 2026 and PAS 2026! 
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September 2025
  • Dr. Gungor Aydin has been invited for a podium presentation at Advances and Perspectives in Auditory Neuroscience (APAN) 2025 in San Diego!

August 2025
  • Dr. Gungor Aydin's abstract  "​Whispers of dementia from the auditory brain in a preclinical model of a novel early biomarker of Alzheimer’s Disease risk" was accepted for a nanosymposium presentation at Neuroscience 2025!

July 2025
  • Dr. Gungor Aydin gave an invited talk at Yale Child Study Center (McPartland Lab).

​June 2025 
  • Dr. Gungor Aydin recently joined Catalyst Collective podcast to discuss on the mental health challenges that teens are facing and the science behind it all- Watch podcast here.
  • NEAF Lab joined NeoFORUM 2025!
March 2025
  • Dr. Gungor Aydin's last paper spotlighted by PARSE Bioscience. Read the news here.
  • The NEAF lab did the first grant submission, yay!
  • Dr. Gungor Aydin shared her journey from postdoctoral researcher to independent faculty to raise awareness for mentorship, training & career development for postdocs - You can watch the video here.
  • ​Congratulations to undergraduates Madison Yip (Rutgers University) on receiving the Alice M and Walter Phillips Award for Outstanding Honors Thesis Proposal and for completing her Senior Psychology Honors Thesis!

February 2025
  • ​Dr. Gungor Aydin's gave a talk on "Sensing Echoes in the Auditory Brain to Detect Learning-Induced Neuroplasticity" at the 2025 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting.

January 2025 
  • The NEAF lab (officially) is born!
  • Dr. Gungor Aydin was invited to present at the Astrocyte Cafe, a monthly seminar series focused on astrocyte research, scheduled for February.

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Contact Us
Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey
140 E. Hanover Ave.,
Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
Phone: 973- 294 1757