Our research program focuses on neural circuit mechanisms that underlie sensory perception, learning and memory, and cognition. Using mouse models, we have made significant advances by showing cell-type specific and molecular signaling mechanisms underlying critical period synaptic plasticity. We demonstrated that the critical period window can be re-opened in adults to restore plasticity using targeted molecular manipulation, which has a potential for guiding new amblyopia treatments. We have extended our studies to other brain regions including prefrontal cortex and hippocampus towards our goal to determine whether neural plasticity can be manipulated for neural circuit functional repairs in brain disorders. Our newest direction is to apply our findings towards treating Alzheimer’s disease by pursuing circuit manipulation-based strategies in AD mouse models.