The role of inhibition in synaptic plasticity and the plasticity of disease

The overall goal of my research is to establish functional roles for specialized inhibitory circuits in synaptic plasticity, sensory processing and the plasticity of disease. In order to accomplish these goals, we use a combined molecular and physiological approach to understand biophysical consequences of sensory deprivation and in disease states such as epilepsy and Fragile X syndrome. We employ the whole cell voltage clamp technique to measure GABA_A receptor mediated currents in physiologically identified neurons in the cerebral cortex and amygdala of transgenic and mutant mice. These studies seek to reveal new, fundamental roles of inhibition by the identification of cell-type-specific inhibitory circuits in the brain and how these circuits change in response to changes in activity.  Taken together these data will implicate inhibition in non-hebbian mechanisms of plasticity in the re-organization of sensory maps and potential mechanisms underlying hyperexcitable states in epilepsy and Fragile X syndrome.  

My lab is focused on four main research themes:

1. The role of fast synaptic inhibition in sensory map adjustments and relating this phenomenon to the onset of excitability changes in epilepsy.  

2. Inhibitory dysfunction in Fragile X syndrome - collaboration with Dr Joshua Corbin (Children’s Research Institute) and Dr Walter Kaufmann (Johns Hopkins University).

3. Differentiating excitatory microcircuits in sensory processing through inhibitory signaling.

4. Development of the basal telencephalic limbic system - collaboration with Dr Joshua Corbin at Children’s Research Institute.

Selected Publications: