Welcome to the Zak Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago. We study how past experiences shape the way the brain interprets the world. Using the olfactory system as a model, our research explores how neural circuits adapt during learning to refine sensory perception and behavior. Combining in vivo imaging, electrophysiology, behavioral analysis, and computational modeling, we seek to uncover the principles that allow sensory systems to remain flexible and efficient in complex environments. We are interested in how past experiences influence our perception of the world. We study the neural circuits and behaviors that allow animals to interact with and navigate their environment.