Faculty
are listed by Department within their Research Areas,
with descriptions of their active projects.
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
PAUL B. COOK
Assistant Professor of Biology; PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Processing of visual signals by the vertebrate retina involves interactions
between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, the strength of which
varies according to several parameters including the spatial properties
of the cells and the temporal characteristics of their signals.
In addition many of these interactions are modulated during changes
in adaptational state such as the change in gap junction coupling
between horizontal cells, or the responsiveness of retinal neurons
to the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate.
In order to understand these interactions, my
laboratory employs several techniques including whole cell patch-clamp
from retinal neurons in the flat mount/isolated retina and in the
retinal slice preparations. Synaptic inputs can be elicited with
stimuli such as patterned and random light stimuli, focal electrical
stimulation of the retinal circuitry, and focal application of analogues,
agonists, and antagonists.
Computational models of neural function will
complement the physiological studies. Particularly significant questions
include the effects of anatomical constraints of the cells comprising
specialized retinal circuits, effects of electrical coupling between
neurons, the functional role of pre- and postsynaptic inhibition
on shaping the temporal and spatial responses of cells, and the
effects of modulation of synaptic inputs on retinal processing.
For more information regarding Paul B. Cook's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/biology/Faculty_Staff/cook.html
JEN-WEI LIN
Professor of Biology; PhD, SUNY—Buffalo
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter secretion.
Neurotransmitter secretion is a complicated
process that involves ion channel gating and secretion steps. In
addition, the mobilization and recycling of synaptic vesicles are
needed to maintain the function of a synapse and to contribute to
synaptic plasticity. Ultimately, an understanding of the secretory
events means that one can establish a kinetic scheme for this multi-step
process and identify molecules responsible for each step. Therefore,
a combined electrophysiological and molecular approach is used in
my laboratory to investigate these questions.
For more information regarding Jen-Wei Lin's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/biology/Faculty_Staff/jenwelin.html
> Top of Page
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
JOHN A. WHITE
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering;
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
Dr. White's interests focus on the electrophysiological and pharmacological
properties of ion channels and how these properties shape neuronal
firing properties and information transmission in the mammalian
brain. Electrophysiological, imaging, dynamical systems, and computer
modeling techniques are applied. Engineering efforts within Dr.
White's lab include design of high-speed systems for real-time control
in biological experiments.
For more information regarding John A. White's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://bme.bu.edu/faculty/white.html
> Top of Page
DEPARTMENT OF COGNITIVE
AND NEURAL SYSTEMS
DANIEL H. BULLOCK
Associate Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems and
Psychology; PhD, Stanford University
Integrated neural network models of sensory-motor learning, planning
and control. These neural network models encompass circuits in cortex,
basal ganglia, cerebellum, and the spinal cord. Our studies focus
on step-by-step reconstruction of known brain and CNS circuits within
the context of a quantitative functional theory of adaptive behavior
and cognition. Concepts and hypotheses are rigorously assessed by
comprehensive computer simulations of neural circuits that are specified
as systems of ordinary differential equations.
For more information regarding Daniel H. Bullock's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://cns-web.bu.edu/Profiles/Bullock.html
GAIL A. CARPENTER
Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems and Mathematics;
PhD, University of Wisconsin
Development of neural network models for self-organizing category
learning and pattern recognition; neural mechanisms of synaptic
transmission and adaptation; and systems that incorporate these
models into neural networks architectures for incremental supervised
learning and prediction. Also: Neural models of vision, nerve impulse
generation (Hodgkin-Huxley equations), transmitter dynamics, and
biological rhythms.
For more information regarding Gail A. Carpenter's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://cns.bu.edu/~gail/
STEPHEN GROSSBERG
Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems,
Professor of Mathematics, Psychology, and Biomedical Engineering;
Director, Center for Adaptive Systems; Chairman, Department of
Cognitive and Neural Systems; PhD, Rockefeller University
Development of neural models of learning, recognition, memory, vision,
audition, speech, cognition, reinforcement, attention, adaptive
sensory-motor control, and biological rhythms. Systematic analysis
and prediction of behavioral and brain data in both normal and clinical
patients. Applications to outstanding technological problems.
For more information regarding Stephen Grossberg's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://cns-web.bu.edu/Profiles/Grossberg/
> Top of Page
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCES
JUDITH SCHOTLAND
Assistant Professor; PhD, Northwestern University
Research interests: The role of spinal neural networks in the organization
of movements. Research uses complementary in vitro and in vivo neurophysiological,
pharmacological, and anatomical techniques in simple vertebrate
model systems to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms and networks
responsible for the control of coordinated movements.
For more information regarding Judith Schotland's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/sargent/research/faculty_research.html
> Top of Page
PSYCHOLOGY
MICHAEL HASSELMO
Associate Professor of Psychology; DPhil, Oxford University
Research in the Hasselmo laboratory focuses on physiological and
computational analysis of the mechanisms of memory function in mammalian
cortical circuits, including the role of activation in muscarinic
acetylcholine receptors and GABAB receptors, and the role of oscillatory
dynamics in the olfactory cortex and hippocampus. Students in the
laboratory have the opportunity to learn a wide range of neuroscience
research techniques, including electrophysiological recording from
brain slice preparations of the hippocampus and piriform cortex,
recordings of evoked potentials and unit activity in anesthetized
and chronic preparations, detailed compartmental biophysical simulations
of cortical circuits, and behavioral studies of cholinergic modulation
in olfactory behavior. Articles from this laboratory have been co-authored
by numerous trainees, many of whom have performed both computational
modeling work and physiological research while working in the laboratory.
For more information regarding Michael Hasselmo's
research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/psych/faculty/hasselmo
> Top of Page
|