Neural circuits that generate perception and control behavior are poorly understood at a molecular level. We are interested in understanding how the brain processes external sensory and internal homeostatic signals to initiate behavioral and physiological responses. We study how our senses of smell and taste process different environmental cues (like pheromones, food cues, predator odors) to elicit innate mating, foraging, and avoidance responses. In recent efforts, we are also investigating internal sensory modalities of the vagus nerve.