Kevin Bender, PhD

Associate Professor
M_Neurology
415-502-7386

Mechanisms and Function of Neuromodulation

Neurons are finely tuned to extract computationally relevant features from synaptic inputs. This process is influenced heavily by neuromodulators, which can transiently retune neuronal processing by altering the properties of the membrane receptors and channels involved in synaptic transmission and cell excitability. Drugs of abuse disrupt neuromodulator signaling, ultimately producing long-lasting changes in the neuronal circuits that underlie addiction establishment, expression, and relapse.

Our lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms by which neuromodulators control excitability and synaptic integration, and how the dysfunctions in these mechanisms contribute to addiction. We employ a variety of electrophysiological, optical, and genetic techniques to probe how these neurotransmitters alter information processing in various neuronal compartments, from synaptic inputs onto dendritic spines, to transmitter release in axonal boutons. We hope that learning more about these mechanisms will lead to new targets for the treatment of addiction.

Lab Members

Roy Ben-Shalom, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
[email protected]

Jiggy Athilingam
Neuroscience Graduate Student
[email protected]

Ken Burke
Neuroscience Graduate Student
[email protected]

Rebecca Clarkson
Neuroscience Graduate Student
[email protected]

Perry Spratt
Neuroscience Graduate Student
[email protected]

Anna Lipkin
Neuroscience Graduate Student
[email protected]

Caroline Keeshen
Lab Manager
[email protected]

Lab Website

Publications

The Psychiatric Cell Map Initiative: A Convergent Systems Biological Approach to Illuminating Key Molecular Pathways in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

M_Anatomy-General

Willsey AJ, Morris MT, Wang S, Willsey HR, Sun N, Teerikorpi N, Baum TB, Cagney G, Bender KJ, Desai TA, Srivastava D, Davis GW, Doudna J, Chang E, Sohal V, Lowenstein DH, Li H, Agard D, Keiser MJ, Shoichet B, von Zastrow M, Mucke L, Finkbeiner S, Gan L, Sestan N, Ward ME, Huttenhain R, Nowakowski TJ, Bellen HJ, Frank LM, Khokha MK, Lifton RP, Kampmann M, Ideker T, State MW, Krogan NJ

Progress in Understanding and Treating SCN2A-Mediated Disorders.

Sanders SJ, Campbell AJ, Cottrell JR, Moller RS, Wagner FF, Auldridge AL, Bernier RA, Catterall WA, Chung WK, Empfield JR, George AL, Hipp JF, Khwaja O, Kiskinis E, Lal D, Malhotra D, Millichap JJ, Otis TS, Petrou S, Pitt G, Schust LF, Taylor CM, Tjernagel J, Spiro JE, Bender KJ