The research in the laboratory is directed at issues of thalamic functional organization and thalamocortical relationships, mainly using the visual and somatosensory pathways in the mouse as experimental models. We use a broad interdisciplinary approach, attempting to answer the same or closely related questions with several different techniques. More specifically, we use neuroanatomical techniques to explore various circuits; we use in vitro recordings from brain slices to study cell and synaptic properties; and we record from in vivo preparations to evaluate these circuits in whole animals using an awake, behaving preparation to determine the relationship between behavioral and cognitive parameters and thalamocortical functioning.
Stimulation techniques in slices include electrical activation and laser photostimulation involving both uncaging of glutamate (or GABA) and optogenetics; recording involves mainly patching of single neurons and imaging via flavoprotein autofluorescence. For in vivo recording, we use conventional single cell electrophysiology, current source density analysis, and have recently imported the technique of 2-photon calcium imaging, which enables us to follow responses of hundreds of cortical cells simultaneously. To activate or inhibit specific pathways we use optogenetics and DREAD (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) techniques often involving specific mouse genetic lines (e.g., involving Cre expression in transgenic mouse lines)
Oxford University
Oxford, England
M.A. (Honorary) - Neuroscience
1985
Australian National University
Canberra, Australia
NA - Postdoctoral training in neurophysiology
1972
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Ph.D. - Neuroanatomy
1969
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
B.S. - Biology
1965
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Professorial Fellow
St. John’s College of Oxford University
2010 - 2010
Guggenheim Fellow
Guggenheim Foundation
2000 - 2001
Dr. Lee Visiting Research Fellow
of Christ Church College of University of Oxford
2000 - 2001
Guest Professor
University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei
1998 - 2000
Newton Abraham Visiting Professor
Lincoln College of Oxford University
1985 - 1986
Honorary M.A. degree
Oxford University
1985 - 1985