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Systems Neuroscience
The faculty of the Systems Neuroscience Group examine the basic structural
and functional mechanisms underlying sensory processing, the neuroanatomical and
neurophysiological components of movement, and neural plasticity and
regeneration.
Dr. Kimberle Jacobs seeks to identify cortical elements and circuitry that contribute
to the plasticity of the nervous system. Utilizing a model of developmental
epilepsy, mechanisms of hyperexcitability induced by early brain damage are explored.
Methods utilized include patch-clamping, field potential recordings, single cell
aRNA amplification, immunhistochemistry, and anatomical tract tracing techniques.
The combination of these approaches allows for the determination of how modifications
in particular cell types contribute to overall changes in functional circuitry. This
research may yield new treatment options for epilepsy patients and insight into
developmental plasticity mechanisms.
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Faculty:
Dr. K. Jacobs
Dr. G. Leichnetz
Dr. R. McClung
Dr. A. Meredith
Dr. M. Shall
Dr. R. Costanzo
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Dr. George Leichnetz's research interests focus on the neuroanatomical pathways
involved in the central nervous system control of eye movement. Using a variety
of neuroanatomical tracers in primates he has shown that the prefrontal cortex,
including the frontal eye field, connects directly with the midbrain and
brainstem regions which are essential for the execution of eye movements. These
studies provide a better understanding of movement programming, initiation and
execution of oculomotor activity.
Dr. Ross McClung's laboratory examines the organization of motoneurons and
motoneuron pools. At present, the functional organization of the hypoglossal
nucleus in being emphasized. By determining dendritic surface area, soma size
and topography of functionally characterized motoneurons, his studies provide
insight into the anatomical bases for movement control.
Dr. Alex Meredith employs neurophysiological, anatomical, and immunocytochemical
techniques to examine the circuitry underlying how the brain integrates
information from the different sensory modalities (e.g. vision, hearing, touch),
and how the loss or injury to one sensory system might lead to compensatory
changes in the others. Current research focuses on the architecture of, and role
of inhibition in, multisensory circuits of the cerebral cortex. Future efforts
will be directed toward examining the role of these circuits in the plasticity of
sensory representations following early (i.e., congenital) and late (i.e.,
acquired after maturity) sensory loss.
Dr. Mary Shall (an affiliate faculty member from the Department of Physical
Therapy) studies the role of the vestibular apparatus in the development and
plasticity of the neuromuscular system. Balance plays a critical role in the
development of posture, but its influence on the maturation of muscle structure
and function is largely unkown. Furthermore, balance deficits seen in children
born deaf or with inner ear inflammation provide a powerful clinical incentive to
examine the relationship between vestibular function/ pathology with muscular
maturation.
Dr. Richard Costanzo's (an affiliate faculty member from the Department of
Physiology) research focuses on the capacity of the olfactory system for
continued neurogenesis and replacement of degenerating neurons. Recent findings
have shown that the newly replaced neurons are capable of reestablishing
functional connections with normal target cells as well as cells in other parts
of the brain. Using anatomical, molecular, electrophysiological, and behavioral
techniques, Dr. Costanzo's group is investigating the survival characteristics of
olfactory stem cells when transplanted into different regions of the brain. |
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