Kira Poskanzer, PhD

Astrocytic and neuronal function in the cortical microcircuit

Astrocytes are numerous throughout the central nervous system and are intimately intercalated with neuronal synapses through their fine branches, yet the function of this glial cell remains undefined, particularly at the circuit level. In my lab, we use optical and electrophysiological techniques to capture population-wide activity with single-cell and subcellular resolution in the mouse cortical circuit. We are investigating the mechanisms by which astrocytes are activated using multiphoton optochemical techniques and are developing novel optical tools that allow us to image and manipulate astrocytic activity in three dimensions in the microcircuit, addressing fundamental questions about how non-neuronal circuit elements shape neural processing. 

Current Projects

• Cellular mechanisms of astrocyte activation with optochemical activation and multiphoton imaging
• Simultaneous population imaging of cortical neurons and astrocytes in vivo
• Astrocytic control of cortical oscillations using optogenetics and electrophysiology

Lab Members

Lab Website

Academic community service and committee membership:
NS diversity committee, NS executive committee, Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Advisory Board, Executive Committee for Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, Summer Research Training Program (SRTP) mentorship organizer, SRTP lab host