Yau Lab is dedicated to advancing the cellular and molecular neurobiology of brain ageing and psychiatric disorders. Using animal models, our research team investigates how environmental factors such as chronic stress and air pollutants affect neural plasticity, mood regulation, and memory formation. We also explore therapeutic interventions, including physical exercise and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, with a particular emphasis on their mechanistic roles in promoting structural and synaptic plasticity within the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. A central focus of our work is to elucidate the peripheral mediators that contribute to the pro-cognitive effects of physical exercise, uncovering the intricate crosstalk between peripheral organs and the brain. To achieve these goals, our team employs a range of advanced techniques, including two-photon imaging, electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and animal behavioral tests. Through these approaches, we aim to provide mechanistic insights into the neurobiology of cognitive impairment and to identify biomarkers and innovative therapeutic strategies for improving brain health.