运动控制的神经机制以及类脑计算；

脑功能状态与行为学;

脊髓损伤修复的内源性机制。

入选国家高层次人才项目。主持“科技创新2030-脑科学与类脑研究”重大项目（课题负责人），上海市市级科技重大专项“全脑神经联接图谱与克隆猴计划”（课题负责人），国家自然科学基金3项（面上项目2项，国际合作交流1项）等多项科研课题

主要学术成绩：解析控制防御性逃跑反应的链状联接神经环路构造（Current Biology，2015，2021），发现抉择逃跑反应方向的新脊髓中间神经元（PNAS，2021）；解析感觉-运动整合神经环路的模块化结构，提出脊髓运动节律性产生的机制（Neuron，2014，2020）；发现脊髓运动神经元的新功能，修改传统意义上脊髓运动神经环路基础 (Nature，2016)；报道脊髓V2a中间神经元驱动脊髓运动的突触机制以及损伤后神经环路重建机制(Nature Communications，2018，2021)。

代表性论文：

1.Wang Z, Duan H, Hao F, Hao P, Zhao W, Gao Y, Gu Y, Song J*, Li X*, Yang Z*. Circuit reconstruction of newborn neurons after spinal cord injury in adult rats via an NT3-chitosan scaffold. Prog Neurobiol. 2022 Nov 21;220:102375. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102375.

2.Huang CX, Wang Z, Cheng J, Zhu Z, Guan NN, Song J*. De novo establishment of circuit modules restores locomotion after spinal cord injury in adult zebrafish. Cell Rep. 2022 Oct 25;41(4):111535. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111535.

3.Huang CX, Zhao Y, Mao J, Wang Z, Xu L, Cheng J, Guan NN* and Song J*. An injury-induced serotonergic neuron subpopulation contributes to axon regrowth and function restoration after spinal cord injury in zebrafish. Nature Communications, (2021) 12:7093.

4.Guan NN, Xu L., Zhang T., Huang CX., Wang Z., Dahlberg E., Wang H., Wang F., Pallucchi I., Hua Y., El Manira A and Song J*. (2021). A specialized spinal circuit for command amplification and directionality during escape behavior. PNAS, 2021 Oct 19;118(42):e2106785118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2106785118.

5.Xu L.#, Guan NN. #, Huang CX., Hua Y., and Song J*. (2021). A neuronal circuit that generates the temporal motor sequence for the defensive response in zebrafish larvae. Curr Biol. 2021 Aug 9;31(15):3343-3357.

6.Song, J.#, Pallucchi, I.#, Ausborn, J.#, Ampatzis, K.#, Bertuzzi, M., Fontanel, P., Picton, L.D., and El Manira, A*. (2020). Multiple Rhythm-Generating Circuits Act in Tandem with Pacemaker Properties to Control the Start and Speed of Locomotion. Neuron 105, 1048-1061.e1044.

7.Song, J.#*, Dahlberg, E., and El Manira, A. (2018). V2a interneuron diversity tailors spinal circuit organization to control the vigor of locomotor movements. Nature Communications. (2018) 9:3370 DOI:10.1038/s41467-018-05827-9.

8.Song, J. #, Ampatzis, K., Björnfors, E.R., and El Manira, A. (2016). Motor neurons control locomotor circuit function retrogradely via gap junctions. Nature. 2016 Jan 21;529(7586):399-402.