Physiology

The Molecular Biology of Nociception and Pain

We are interested in the molecular biology of sensory transduction and neurotransmitter action in the mammalian nervous system. A main goal is to understand the molecular basis of somatosensation - the process whereby we experience touch and temperature - with an emphasis on identifying molecules that detect noxious (pain-producing) stimuli. We are also interested in understanding how somatosensation is altered in response to tissue or nerve injury.

Neuronal morphogenesis and circuit assembly

Potassium Channels and Calcium-activated Chloride Channels

Conserved among eukaryotes and prokaryotes, potassium channels modulate neuronal signaling in the brain and peripheral nervous system, regulate cell volume and the flow of salt across epithelia, and control heart rate, vascular tone, and the release of hormones such as insulin. They further protect neurons and muscles under metabolic stress. 

Learning and Spatial Coding in the Hippocampal-Cortical Circuit

Sensorimotor Learning in the Song System

Research in my laboratory focuses primarily on the question of how experience, particularly during early life, shapes the functioning of the nervous system. To approach this question we are currently using a combination of behavioral and neurophysiological techniques to investigate the mechanisms underlying vocal learning in songbirds.

Research Overview