The focus of our research is on the molecular mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD). One ongoing project (at the Univ. of Michigan and Georgetown Univ.) is probing the effects of the neuronal adaptor protein X11alpha/mint-1 on amyloid precursor protein (APP) trafficking and processing--using crosses of trangenic and knockout mice.  In collaboration with Dr. Rebeck's group, we also plan to explore the role of X11alpha/mint-1 on ApoE receptor trafficking, and function, in neurons (including dendritic spines).  Another project focuses on passive immunization of a triple transgenic AD mouse (transgenic for hAPP, hPS1, and hTau).  Experiments are designed to probe the mechanisms, and efficacy of novel anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies to clear amyloid plaques in brain, and to rescue behavioral phenotypes in aged mice.  The potential risks of passive immunization in AD transgenic mice, such as microhemmorhages, are also being explored.

Selected Publications:

• Capone R, Quiroz FG, Prangkio P, Saluja I, Sauer AM, Bautista MR, Turner RS, Yang J, Mayer M. Amyloid-beta-Induced Ion Flux in Artificial Lipid Bilayers and Neuronal Cells: Resolving a Controversy. Neurotox Res. 16:1-13, July 2009

• Sani S, Shimamoto S, Turner RS, Levesque N, Starr PA. Microelectrode recording in the posterior hypothalamic region in humans. Neurosurgery. 64:161-7, March 2009

• McCairn KW, Turner RS. Deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus internus in the parkinsonian primate: local entrainment and suppression of low-frequency oscillations. J Neurophysiol. 101:1941-60, April 2009

• Christine CW, Langston JW, Turner RS, Starr PA. The neurophysiology and effect of deep brain stimulation in a patient with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced parkinsonism. J Neurosurg. 110:234-8, Feb 2009

• Starr PA, Kang GA, Heath S, Shimamoto S, Turner RS. Pallidal neuronal discharge in Huntington's disease: support for selective loss of striatal cells originating the indirect pathway. Exp Neurol. 211:227-33, May 2008

• Desmurget M, Turner RS. Testing basal ganglia motor functions through reversible inactivations in the posterior internal globus pallidus. J Neurophysiol. 99:1057-76, Mar 2008

• Chang EF, Turner RS, Ostrem JL, Davis VR, Starr PA. Neuronal responses to passive movement in the globus pallidus internus in primary dystonia. J Neurophysiol. 98:3696-707, Dec 2007

• Foster NL, Heidebrink JL, Clark CM, Jagust WJ, Arnold SE, Barbas NR, DeCarli CS, Turner RS, Koeppe RA, Higdon R, Minoshima S. FDG-PET improves accuracy in distinguishing frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 130:2616-35, Oct 2007

• Wu AK, McCairn KW, Zada G, Wu T, Turner RS. Motor cortex stimulation: mild transient benefit in a primate model of Parkinson disease. J Neurosurg. 106:695-700, April 2007

• Turner RS. Alzheimer's disease. Semin Neurol. 26:499-506, Nov 2006

• Ballanger B, Thobois S, Baraduc P, Turner RS, Broussolle E, Desmurget M. "Paradoxical kinesis" is not a hallmark of Parkinson's disease but a general property of the motor system. Mov Disord. 21:1490-5, Sep 2006

• Grafton ST, Turner RS, Desmurget M, Bakay R, Delong M, Vitek J, Crutcher M. Normalizing motor-related brain activity: subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson disease. Neurology. 66:1192-9, April 2006

• Starr PA, Turner RS, Rau G, Lindsey N, Heath S, Volz M, Ostrem JL, Marks WJ Jr. Microelectrode-guided implantation of deep brain stimulators into the globus pallidus internus for dystonia: techniques, electrode locations, and outcomes. J Neurosurg. 104:488-501, April 2006

• Daley JT, Turner RS, Freeman A, Bliwise DL, Rye DB. Prolonged assessment of sleep and daytime sleepiness in unrestrained Macaca mulatta. Sleep. 29:221-31, Feb 2006

• Desmurget M, Turner RS, Prablanc C, Russo GS, Alexander GE, Grafton ST. Updating target location at the end of an orienting saccade affects the characteristics of simple point-to-point movements. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 31:1510-36, Dec 2005

• Turner RS, Anderson ME. Context-dependent modulation of movement-related discharge in the primate globus pallidus. J Neurosci. 25:2965-76, Mar 2005

• Starr PA, Rau GM, Davis V, Marks WJ Jr, Ostrem JL, Simmons D, Lindsey N, Turner RS. Spontaneous pallidal neuronal activity in human dystonia: comparison with Parkinson's disease and normal macaque. J Neurophysiol. 93:3165-76, June 2005

• Starr PA, Turner RS, Rau G, Lindsey N, Heath S, Volz M, Ostrem JL, Marks WJ Jr. Microelectrode-guided implantation of deep brain stimulators into the globus pallidus internus for dystonia: techniques, electrode locations, and outcomes. Neurosurg Focus. 17:E4, July 2004

• Desmurget M, Gaveau V, Vindras P, Turner RS, Broussolle E, Thobois S. On-line motor control in patients with Parkinson's disease. Brain. 127:1755-73, Aug 2004

• Desmurget M, Grafton ST, Vindras P, Gréa H, Turner RS. The basal ganglia network mediates the planning of movement amplitude. Eur J Neurosci. 19:2871-80, 2004 May