Key Documents

H Craig Heller

Professor, Biology (School of Humanities and Sciences)
Member, Bio-X

Contact Information

Clinical Offices
Academic Offices

Personal Information
Email hcheller@stanford.edu

Administrative Appointments

Curriculum Committee, BioEngineering , (2007– present )
K-12 Steering Committee, School of Education , (2007– present )
Executive Committee, Human Biology , (2006– present )
Chair, Curriculum Committee, Human Biology , (2006– present )
Chair, Wallenberg Global Learning Network Steering Committee , (2001– present )
Chair, Biological Sciences , (1997– 2001 )
Associate Dean, Dean of Research , (1994– 1997 )

Honors and Awards

William and Lynde Steere University Fellow, University (2004-2009)
Lorry I. Lokey Business Wire Professor, Biology/Human Biology (1993-present)
Bing Professor of Human Biology, Human Biology (1987-1993)

Professional Education

PhD, Yale University Biology (1970)

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

Neurosciences

Research Interests

Neurobiology of sleep, circadian rhythms, regulation of body temperature, mammalian hibernation, and human exercise physiology. We study neural mechanisms controlling arousal states and arousal state transitions, the function of sleep, and the neural mechanisms of circadian rhythms. Research on human exercise physiology focuses on the effects of body temperature on physical conditioning and performance.

Publications

Heat loss through the glabrous skin surfaces of heavily insulated, heat-stressed individuals. Grahn DA, Dillon JL, Heller HC. J Biomech Eng. 2009; 131 (7): 071005
Hippocampal-dependent learning requires a functional circadian system. Ruby NF, Hwang CE, Wessells C, Fernandez F, Zhang P, Sapolsky R, Heller HC. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008; 105 (40): 15593-8
Synaptic protein dynamics in hibernation. von der Ohe CG, Garner CC, Darian-Smith C, Heller HC. J Neurosci. 2007; 27 (1): 84-92
Pattern recognition of sleep in rodents using piezoelectric signals generated by gross body movements. Flores AE, Flores JE, Deshpande H, Picazo JA, Xie XS, Franken P, Heller HC, Grahn DA, O'Hara BF. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2007; 54 (2): 225-33
A non-circadian role for clock-genes in sleep homeostasis: a strain comparison. Franken P, Thomason R, Heller HC, O'Hara BF. BMC Neurosci. 2007; 8 87
Glycogen content in the cerebral cortex increases with sleep loss in C57BL/6J mice. Franken P, Gip P, Hagiwara G, Ruby NF, Heller HC. Neurosci Lett. 2006; 402 (1-2): 176-9
Ubiquitous and temperature-dependent neural plasticity in hibernators. von der Ohe CG, Darian-Smith C, Garner CC, Heller HC. J Neurosci. 2006; 26 (41): 10590-8
Heat extraction through the palm of one hand improves aerobic exercise endurance in a hot environment. Grahn DA, Cao VH, Heller HC. J Appl Physiol. 2005; 99 (3): 972-8
Lack of the alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 1 causes tremors, seizures, and early postnatal death in mice. Xie X, Dumas T, Tang L, Brennan T, Reeder T, Thomas W, Klein RD, Flores J, O'Hara BF, Heller HC, Franken P. Brain Res. 2005; 1052 (2): 212-21
Sleep restriction suppresses neurogenesis induced by hippocampus-dependent learning. Hairston IS, Little MT, Scanlon MD, Barakat MT, Palmer TD, Sapolsky RM, Heller HC. J Neurophysiol. 2005; 94 (6): 4224-33
Light induces c-fos and per1 expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of arrhythmic hamsters. Barakat MT, O'Hara BF, Cao VH, Heller HC, Ruby NF. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2005; 289 (5): R1381-6
Phenotypic differences in reentrainment behavior and sensitivity to nighttime light pulses in siberian hamsters. Ruby NF, Barakat MT, Heller HC. J Biol Rhythms. 2004; 19 (6): 530-41
Light pulses do not induce c-fos or per1 in the SCN of hamsters that fail to reentrain to the photocycle. Barakat MT, O'Hara BF, Cao VH, Larkin JE, Heller HC, Ruby NF. J Biol Rhythms. 2004; 19 (4): 287-97
Sleep and circadian rhythms in mammalian torpor. Heller HC, Ruby NF. Annu Rev Physiol. 2004; 66 275-89
Homeostatic regulation of sleep in arrhythmic Siberian hamsters. Larkin JE, Yokogawa T, Heller HC, Franken P, Ruby NF. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004; 287 (1): R104-11
Glucocorticoids influence brain glycogen levels during sleep deprivation. Gip P, Hagiwara G, Sapolsky RM, Cao VH, Heller HC, Ruby NF. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004; 286 (6): R1057-62
Sleep deprivation effects on growth factor expression in neonatal rats: a potential role for BDNF in the mediation of delta power. Hairston IS, Peyron C, Denning DP, Ruby NF, Flores J, Sapolsky RM, Heller HC, O'Hara BF. J Neurophysiol. 2004; 91 (4): 1586-95
Changes in brain glycogen after sleep deprivation vary with genotype. Franken P, Gip P, Hagiwara G, Ruby NF, Heller HC. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2003; 285 (2): R413-9
Role of melanopsin in circadian responses to light. Ruby NF, Brennan TJ, Xie X, Cao V, Franken P, Heller HC, O'Hara BF. Science. 2002; 298 (5601): 2211-3
Constant darkness restores entrainment to phase-delayed Siberian hamsters. Ruby NF, Joshi N, Heller HC. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2002; 283 (6): R1314-20
Sleep deprivation decreases glycogen in the cerebellum but not in the cortex of young rats. Gip P, Hagiwara G, Ruby NF, Heller HC. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2002; 283 (1): R54-9
Loss of circadian organization of sleep and wakefulness during hibernation. Larkin JE, Franken P, Heller HC. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2002; 282 (4): R1086-95
The suprachiasmatic nucleus is essential for circadian body temperature rhythms in hibernating ground squirrels. Ruby NF, Dark J, Burns DE, Heller HC, Zucker I. J Neurosci. 2002; 22 (1): 357-64
Sleep deprivation elevates plasma corticosterone levels in neonatal rats. Hairston IS, Ruby NF, Brooke S, Peyron C, Denning DP, Heller HC, Sapolsky RM. Neurosci Lett. 2001; 315 (1-2): 29-32
Siberian hamsters that fail to reentrain to the photocycle have suppressed melatonin levels. Ruby NF, Dubocovich ML, Heller HC. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2000; 278 (3): R757-62
The glutamate induced phase shift in the SCN slice: a two pulse study. Franken P, Cao V, Heller HC, Miller JD. Brain Res. 1999; 818 (1): 34-40
HSP70 expression is increased during the day in a diurnal animal, the golden-mantled ground squirrel Spermophilus lateralis. Bitting L, Watson FL, O'Hara BF, Kilduff TS, Heller HC. Mol Cell Biochem. 1999; 199 (1-2): 25-34
Circadian rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus are temperature-compensated and phase-shifted by heat pulses in vitro. Ruby NF, Burns DE, Heller HC. J Neurosci. 1999; 19 (19): 8630-6
8-OH-DPAT-sensitive neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus modulate thermoregulatory output in rats. Berner NJ, Grahn DA, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1999; 831 (1-2): 155-64
Gene expression in the brain across the hibernation cycle. O'Hara BF, Watson FL, Srere HK, Kumar H, Wiler SW, Welch SK, Bitting L, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. J Neurosci. 1999; 19 (10): 3781-90
Developmental changes in nicotinic receptor mRNAs and responses to nicotine in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other brain regions. O'Hara BF, Macdonald E, Clegg D, Wiler SW, Andretic R, Cao VH, Miller JD, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1999; 66 (1-2): 71-82
Effects of temperature on sleep in the developing rat. Morrissette RN, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1998; 274 (4 Pt 2): R1087-93
The aged suprachiasmatic nucleus is phase-shifted by cAMP in vitro. Ruby NF, Edgar DM, Heller HC, Miller JD. Brain Res. 1998; 779 (1-2): 338-41
Suprachiasmatic nucleus: role in circannual body mass and hibernation rhythms of ground squirrels. Ruby NF, Dark J, Heller HC, Zucker I. Brain Res. 1998; 782 (1-2): 63-72
Nicotine and nicotinic receptors in the circadian system. O'Hara BF, Edgar DM, Cao VH, Wiler SW, Heller HC, Kilduff TS, Miller JD. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1998; 23 (2): 161-73
Recovery from mild hypothermia can be accelerated by mechanically distending blood vessels in the hand. Grahn D, Brock-Utne JG, Watenpaugh DE, Heller HC. J Appl Physiol. 1998; 85 (5): 1643-8
Neurons containing hypocretin (orexin) project to multiple neuronal systems. Peyron C, Tighe DK, van den Pol AN, de Lecea L, Heller HC, Sutcliffe JG, Kilduff TS. J Neurosci. 1998; 18 (23): 9996-10015
Phase shift magnitude and direction determine whether Siberian hamsters reentrain to the photocycle. Ruby NF, Joshi N, Heller HC. J Biol Rhythms. 1998; 13 (6): 506-17
Daily variation of CNS gene expression in nocturnal vs. diurnal rodents and in the developing rat brain. O'Hara BF, Watson FL, Andretic R, Wiler SW, Young KA, Bitting L, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1997; 48 (1): 73-86
Development of diurnal organization of EEG slow-wave activity and slow-wave sleep in the rat. Frank MG, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1997; 273 (2 Pt 2): R472-8
Metabotropic glutamate receptor activation modulates kainate and serotonin calcium response in astrocytes. Haak LL, Heller HC, van den Pol AN. J Neurosci. 1997; 17 (5): 1825-37
Melatonin attenuates photic disruption of circadian rhythms in Siberian hamsters. Ruby NF, Kang T, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1997; 273 (4 Pt 2): R1540-9
The effects of REM sleep-inhibiting drugs in neonatal rats: evidence for a distinction between neonatal active sleep and REM sleep. Frank MG, Page J, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1997; 778 (1): 64-72
Neonatal treatments with the serotonin uptake inhibitors clomipramine and zimelidine, but not the noradrenaline uptake inhibitor desipramine, disrupt sleep patterns in adult rats. Frank MG, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1997; 768 (1-2): 287-93
Appropriate thermal manipulations eliminate tremors in rats recovering from halothane anesthesia. Grahn DA, Heller MC, Larkin JE, Heller HC. J Appl Physiol. 1996; 81 (6): 2547-54
Temperature sensitivity of sleep homeostasis during hibernation in the golden-mantled ground squirrel. Larkin JE, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1996; 270 (4 Pt 2): R777-84
Siberian hamsters free run or become arrhythmic after a phase delay of the photocycle. Ruby NF, Saran A, Kang T, Franken P, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1996; 271 (4 Pt 2): R881-90
Ablation of suprachiasmatic nucleus alters timing of hibernation in ground squirrels. Ruby NF, Dark J, Heller HC, Zucker I. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996; 93 (18): 9864-8
Temperature sensitivity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of ground squirrels and rats in vitro. Ruby NF, Heller HC. J Biol Rhythms. 1996; 11 (2): 126-36
GABAA, GABAC, and NMDA receptor subunit expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other brain regions. O'Hara BF, Andretic R, Heller HC, Carter DB, Kilduff TS. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1995; 28 (2): 239-50
Nicotine administration differentially affects gene expression in the maternal and fetal circadian clock. Clegg DA, O'Hara BF, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 1995; 84 (1): 46-54
Nicotine phase-advances the circadian neuronal activity rhythm in rat suprachiasmatic nuclei explants. Trachsel L, Heller HC, Miller JD. Neuroscience. 1995; 65 (3): 797-803
Sequence and tissue distribution of a candidate G-coupled receptor cloned from rat hypothalamus. Welch SK, O'Hara BF, Kilduff TS, Heller HC. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995; 209 (2): 606-13
Stimulation of A1 adenosine receptors mimics the electroencephalographic effects of sleep deprivation. Benington JH, Kodali SK, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1995; 692 (1-2): 79-85
Apamin, a selective SK potassium channel blocker, suppresses REM sleep without a compensatory rebound. Benington JH, Woudenberg MC, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1995; 692 (1-2): 86-92
Adenosine pre- and postsynaptic modulation of glutamate-dependent calcium activity in hypothalamic neurons. Obrietan K, Belousov AB, Heller HC, van den Pol AN. J Neurophysiol. 1995; 74 (5): 2150-62
Serotonergic phase advances of the mammalian circadian clock involve protein kinase A and K+ channel opening. Prosser RA, Heller HC, Miller JD. Brain Res. 1994; 644 (1): 67-73
Ontogeny of photic-induced c-fos mRNA expression in rat suprachiasmatic nuclei. Leard LE, Macdonald ES, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. Neuroreport. 1994; 5 (18): 2683-7
REM-sleep propensity accumulates during 2-h REM-sleep deprivation in the rest period in rats. Benington JH, Woudenberg MC, Heller HC. Neurosci Lett. 1994; 180 (1): 76-80
c-fos mRNA in the suprachiasmatic nuclei in vitro shows a circadian rhythm and responds to a serotonergic agonist. Prosser RA, Macdonald ES, Heller HC. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1994; 25 (1-2): 151-6
REM-sleep timing is controlled homeostatically by accumulation of REM-sleep propensity in non-REM sleep. Benington JH, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1994; 266 (6 Pt 2): R1992-2000
Chloride channel block phase advances the single-unit activity rhythm in the SCN. Rangarajan R, Heller HC, Miller JD. Brain Res Bull. 1994; 34 (1): 69-72
A possible glial role in the mammalian circadian clock. Prosser RA, Edgar DM, Heller HC, Miller JD. Brain Res. 1994; 643 (1-2): 296-301
Thermal effects on neuronal activity in suprachiasmatic nuclei of hibernators and nonhibernators. Miller JD, Cao VH, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1994; 266 (4 Pt 2): R1259-66
Persistence of circadian rhythmicity in hibernating ground squirrels. Grahn DA, Miller JD, Houng VS, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1994; 266 (4 Pt 2): R1251-8
Scoring transitions to REM sleep in rats based on the EEG phenomena of pre-REM sleep: an improved analysis of sleep structure. Benington JH, Kodali SK, Heller HC. Sleep. 1994; 17 (1): 28-36
C-fos mRNA increases in the ground squirrel suprachiasmatic nucleus during arousal from hibernation. Bitting L, Sutin EL, Watson FL, Leard LE, O'Hara BF, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. Neurosci Lett. 1994; 165 (1-2): 117-21
Light-induced gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of young and aging rats. Sutin EL, Dement WC, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. Neurobiol Aging. 1993 Sep-Oct; 14 (5): 441-6
Immediate early gene expression in brain during sleep deprivation: preliminary observations. O'Hara BF, Young KA, Watson FL, Heller HC, Kilduff TS. Sleep. 1993; 16 (1): 1-7
Serotonin and the mammalian circadian system: I. In vitro phase shifts by serotonergic agonists and antagonists. Prosser RA, Dean RR, Edgar DM, Heller HC, Miller JD. J Biol Rhythms. 1993; 8 (1): 1-16
Monoaminc and metabolite levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of hibernating and euthermic marmots. Reid MS, Kilduff TS, Romero LM, Florant GL, Dement WC, Heller HC. J Sleep Res. 1992; 1 (1): 45-50
Melatonin influences Fos expression in the rat suprachiasmatic. Kilduff TS, Landel HB, Nagy GS, Sutin EL, Dement WC, Heller HC. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1992; 16 (1-2): 47-56
Sleep homeostasis in suprachiasmatic nuclei-lesioned rats: effects of sleep deprivation and triazolam administration. Trachsel L, Edgar DM, Seidel WF, Heller HC, Dement WC. Brain Res. 1992; 589 (2): 253-61
Serotonergic phase shifts of the mammalian circadian clock: effects of tetrodotoxin and high Mg2+. Prosser RA, Heller HC, Miller JD. Brain Res. 1992; 573 (2): 336-40
Regional changes in central monoamine and metabolite levels during the hibernation cycle in the golden-mantled ground squirrel. Haak LL, Mignot E, Kilduff TS, Dement WC, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1991; 563 (1-2): 215-20
Are ground squirrels sleep deprived during hibernation? Trachsel L, Edgar DM, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1991; 260 (6 Pt 2): R1123-9
Reticular formation activity during wakefulness and sleep in a hibernator (Spermophilus lateralis). Krilowicz BL, Edgar DM, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1991; 540 (1-2): 266-72
A serotonin agonist phase-shifts the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei in vitro. Prosser RA, Miller JD, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1990; 534 (1-2): 336-9
14C-2-deoxyglucose uptake in the ground squirrel brain during entrance to and arousal from hibernation. Kilduff TS, Miller JD, Radeke CM, Sharp FR, Heller HC. J Neurosci. 1990; 10 (7): 2463-75
Arousal state vs. temperature effects on neuronal activity in subcoeruleus area. Grahn DA, Radeke CM, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1989; 256 (4 Pt 2): R840-9
Suprachiasmatic nucleus: phase-dependent activation during the hibernation cycle. Kilduff TS, Radeke CM, Randall TL, Sharp FR, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1989; 257 (3 Pt 2): R605-12
Action potential duration increases as body temperature decreases during hibernation. Krilowicz BL, Edgar DM, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1989; 498 (1): 73-80
Activity of most rostral ventromedial medulla neurons reflect EEG/EMG pattern changes. Grahn DA, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1989; 257 (6 Pt 2): R1496-505
Neuronal activity during sleep and complete bouts of hibernation. Krilowicz BL, Glotzbach SF, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1988; 255 (6 Pt 2): R1008-19
Progressive activation of paratrigeminal nucleus during entrance to hibernation. Kilduff TS, Sharp FR, Heller HC. Am J Physiol. 1988; 255 (1 Pt 2): R178-81
Activity of suprachiasmatic and hypothalamic neurons during sleep and wakefulness in the rat. Glotzbach SF, Cornett CM, Heller HC. Brain Res. 1987; 419 (1-2): 279-86