The main interest of my lab is to understand how the properties of neocortical neurons and the circuits they form give rise to cortical activity and function. Our approach includes recordings from multiple cells, calcium imaging, two-photon imaging and viral-based optogenetic methods to activate cortical neurons as well as cortical afferents.
The neocortex represents about 80% of the human brain and is associated with wide range of functions including sensory perception, motor movement, memory and higher aspects of cognition. Although cortical responses in anesthetized and behaving animals have been studied in some detail the microcircuitry that gives rise to these responses has not been understood. In the neocortex most of the synaptic connections that any cortical cell receives are from other cortical neurons. Thus, the interactions among cortical cells within the microcircuit play a critical role in determining cortical activity.
We have developed methods to define cell types using genetics and other means. We then use brain slices to record simultaneously from individual neurons that are synaptically connected. These methods allow us to characterize the wiring pattern of microcircuits and the synaptic properties of specific connections. We have used calcium imaging to monitor the activity of large number of neurons. These methods together with transgenic fluorescent labeling and targeted electrical recordings are used to study the roles of specific types of neurons in vitro and in vivo. More recently we have used optogenetic approaches to determine how external inputs affect the activity of cortical circuits.
Personnel
Shaul Hestrin,
PhD
Associate
Professor
(650) 498-5086
Edwards R314
(650) 724-7832 (fax)
Sergio Arroyo, MD, PhD |
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| Corbett Bennett, BA PhD Graduate Student (650) 736-2172 Edwards R312A |
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| Aaron Blankenship, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow (650) 736-2172 |
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| Pamela Woo Research Assistant (650) 736-2172 |
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