We study the development and function of peripheral sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia that innervate the skin, oral cavity, and gastrointestinal tract, and how signals from these neurons generate somatosensory and viscerosensory representations in the central nervous system. We seek to understand how sensory input, beginning with the activation of peripheral sensory neurons, regulates brain development, influences sensory perception, and shapes complex cognitive and social behaviors. A central tenet of our work is that variations in sensory sensitivity and experience between individuals, due to genetic differences and/or environmental factors, contribute to the heterogeneity of individuals’ cognitive and social behaviors. A major focus of our work is to understand how somatosensory and viscerosensory circuits are altered in mouse models for autism spectrum disorder. Our work aims to reveal fundamental principles of sensory neuroscience, discover basic biological mechanisms underlying autism pathogenesis, and develop therapeutic strategies targeting peripheral sensory neurons as a novel approach for improving autism-related symptoms. We iteratively combine genetics, behavior, anatomy, transcriptomics, in vivo imaging, as well as in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology methods in mice to explore these complex systems.