Dr Wen-Sung Chung
Dr

Wen-Sung Chung

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54089

Background

I have a long track record in cephalopod biology, as a taxonomist (Guide to the Cephalopods of Taiwan), scientific diver, visual neuroscientist, brain imaging pioneer in cephalopods. My work has deepened our understanding of morphological and functional adaptations of the fish and cephalopod visual system in the marine environment and shown ecological links to ambient light and behavioural tasks. I am also at the forefront of high-resolution MRI-based imaging technology tailored explicitly for studying cephalopod brains. My recent work has established analysis protocols to investigate the gross neuroanatomy and underlying neural networks amongst cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus).

Availability

Dr Wen-Sung Chung is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Animal neurobiology Biological Sciences Biological adaptation Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Environmental Sciences Evolutionary biology Invertebrate biology Neurosciences Zoology

Qualifications

  • Doctoral Diploma of Neurological Sciences, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Cephalopod visual ecology

  • Cephalopod neurobiology

  • Cephalopod diversity

  • Deep-sea ecology

  • Electrophysiology

Research impacts

My work has led to novel discoveries of the cephalopod brain layout and heterogeneity of neuroanatomical features linked to their life modes. This is a game changer in researching the most complex invertebrate nervous system by disentangling inter-woven neural fibres into discrete bundles related to specific functional circuits rather than simply anatomically concomitant ones. Furthermore, the structural and connection maps provide a foundation for studying functional morphology and interactions between these intelligent animals' brain regions, motor outputs, and behaviours.

Search Professor Wen-Sung Chung’s works on UQ eSpace

31 works between 2008 and 2025
All (31) Book (1) Journal Article (26) Other Outputs (3) Conference Publication (1)

21 - 31 of 31 works

2017

Journal Article

Morphological changes of the optic lobe from late embryonic to adult stages in oval squids Sepioteuthis lessoniana

Liu, Yung-Chieh, Chung, Wen-Sung, Yu, Chun-Chieh, Hsu, Su-Ting, Chan, Fung-Lan, Liu, Tsung-Han, Su, Chia-Hao, Hwu, Yeukuang, Marshall, N Justin and Chiao, Chuan-Chin (2017). Morphological changes of the optic lobe from late embryonic to adult stages in oval squids Sepioteuthis lessoniana. Journal of Morphology, 279 (1), 75-85. doi: 10.1002/jmor.20755

Morphological changes of the optic lobe from late embryonic to adult stages in oval squids Sepioteuthis lessoniana

2017

Journal Article

Dynamic skin patterns in cephalopods

How, Martin J., Norman, Mark D., Finn, Julian, Chung, Wen-Sung and Marshall, N. Justin (2017). Dynamic skin patterns in cephalopods. Frontiers in Physiology, 8 (JUN) 393. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00393

Dynamic skin patterns in cephalopods

2017

Journal Article

Complex visual adaptations in squid for specific tasks in different environments

Chung, Wen-Sung and Marshall, N. Justin (2017). Complex visual adaptations in squid for specific tasks in different environments. Frontiers in Physiology, 8 (FEB) 105, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00105

Complex visual adaptations in squid for specific tasks in different environments

2016

Journal Article

Can chromatic aberration enable color vision in natural environments?

Gagnon, Yakir Luc, Osorio, Daniel C., Wardill, Trevor J., Marshall, N. Justin, Chung, Wen-Sung and Temple, Shelby E. (2016). Can chromatic aberration enable color vision in natural environments?. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113 (45), E6908-E6909. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1612239113

Can chromatic aberration enable color vision in natural environments?

2014

Journal Article

Response to 'The importance of accurate CO2 dosing and measurement in ocean acidification studies'

Munday, Philip L., Watson, Sue-Ann, Chung, Wen-Sung, Marshall, N. Justin and Nilsson, Goran E. (2014). Response to 'The importance of accurate CO2 dosing and measurement in ocean acidification studies'. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217 (10), 1828-1829. doi: 10.1242/jeb.105890

Response to 'The importance of accurate CO2 dosing and measurement in ocean acidification studies'

2014

Journal Article

Reflecting optics in the diverticular eye of a deep-sea barreleye fish (Rhynchohyalus natalensis)

Partridge, J. C., Douglas, R. H., Marshall, N. J., Chung, W.-S., Jordan, T. M. and Wagner, H.-J. (2014). Reflecting optics in the diverticular eye of a deep-sea barreleye fish (Rhynchohyalus natalensis). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281 (1782) 20133223, 20133223. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3223

Reflecting optics in the diverticular eye of a deep-sea barreleye fish (Rhynchohyalus natalensis)

2014

Journal Article

Range-finding in squid using retinal deformation and image blur

Chung, Wen-Sung and Marshall, Justin (2014). Range-finding in squid using retinal deformation and image blur. Current Biology, 24 (2), R64-R65. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.11.058

Range-finding in squid using retinal deformation and image blur

2014

Other Outputs

Comparisons of visual capabilities in modern cephalopods from shallow water to deep sea

Chung, Wen-sung (2014). Comparisons of visual capabilities in modern cephalopods from shallow water to deep sea. PhD Thesis, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland.

Comparisons of visual capabilities in modern cephalopods from shallow water to deep sea

2011

Conference Publication

Unusual squid eyes serve good visual capabilities

Chung, W.-S., Keller, M., Fritsches, K. and Marshall, J. (2011). Unusual squid eyes serve good visual capabilities. EuroCeph (2011), Vico Equense, Naples, Italy, 7-10 April 2011. Hanover, PA, U.S.A.: National Shellfisheries Association. doi: 10.2983/035.030.0342

Unusual squid eyes serve good visual capabilities

2009

Journal Article

Acoustically evoked potentials in two cephalopods inferred using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) approach

Hu, Marian Y., Yan, Hong Young, Chung, Wen-Sung, Shiao, Jen-Chieh and Hwang, Pung-Pung (2009). Acoustically evoked potentials in two cephalopods inferred using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) approach. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 153 (3), 278-283. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.02.040

Acoustically evoked potentials in two cephalopods inferred using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) approach

2008

Journal Article

Adaptive evolution of cone opsin genes in two colorful cyprinids, Opsariichthys pachycephalus and Candidia barbatus

Wang, Feng Yu, Chung, Wen Sung, Yan, Hong Young and Tzeng, Chyng Shyan (2008). Adaptive evolution of cone opsin genes in two colorful cyprinids, Opsariichthys pachycephalus and Candidia barbatus. Vision Research, 48 (16), 1695-1704. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2008.04.026

Adaptive evolution of cone opsin genes in two colorful cyprinids, Opsariichthys pachycephalus and Candidia barbatus

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Inside Out: How sexual dimorphism and neural plasticity shape the brain, behaviour, and longevity in octopuses
    The Hermon Slade Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    The mind and brain of an octopus: smart supercharged-snail
    The Australia and Pacific Science Foundation
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Wen-Sung Chung is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Wen-Sung Chung directly for media enquiries about:

  • Animal NeuroBiology
  • Brain imaging
  • Cephalopods

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