Phoebe Reynolds

My research focuses on how the senses shape brain development and behaviour, using zebrafish as a model organism. I am particularly interested in how early-life experiences influence sensory processing, how neural circuits develop, and how these changes ultimately affect behaviour. Below is more information about each of my projects…


Visual plasticity in the retina
During my PhD, I investigated whether visual plasticity occurs in the retina, a part of the visual system traditionally considered relatively stable. This work combined neuroscience and animal behaviour, using techniques including high-resolution microscopy, computational modelling, and virtual reality environments for larval zebrafish. You can read more about it here.

Alongside this research, we collaborated with artist Lisa Pettibone to bring the science to life through a creative project.

Paper: Reynolds et al (2025), BioRxiv



Neurodevelopmental disorders impacting behaviour
Alongside my PhD research, I developed behavioural assays to investigate how genetic mutations influence specific behaviours. Working with collaborators, I studied genes associated with ADHD and depression, exploring how alterations in these genes affect behaviour in zebrafish.

Paper: Reynolds et al (2026), BioRxiv. More coming soon…



Memories in the olfactory system
My current research investigates how the olfactory system develops the ability to recognise and respond to different smells. To address this question, I use dynamic connectomics, an approach that combines behavioural experiments, advanced microscopy, and electron microscopy to track how neural circuits change over time. By linking changes in brain structure to behavioural adaptation, I aim to uncover the structural basis of memory formation.