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

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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

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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/

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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

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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

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