Travis Rotterman

As we navigate through our environment, we constantly encounter obstacles and unexpected perturbations that demand rapid adjustments in posture to maintain stability and mobility. This adaptability relies, in part, on exquisitely sensitive sensory receptors embedded in our muscles, which are innervated by muscle afferents known as proprioceptors. Proprioceptors provide direct feedback to the central nervous system, via generation of action potentials, and integrate this information into spinal neural networks that guide and refine limb movements. This process is referred to as sensorimotor integration.

Our laboratory investigates how proprioceptive sensory afferents encode, integrate, and modulate motor responses in both healthy animals and in models of injury or disease. In particular, we study how a variety of peripheral neuropathies, such as peripheral nerve injury or inherited neuropathies (i.e., Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) alter central connectivity and the underlying mechanisms that drive synaptic plasticity. This includes examining central neuroinflammatory responses, such as microglial activation, that occur within affected networks and how these responses influence central synaptic remodeling.

To address questions pertaining to this theme, we employ a range of approaches to interrogate spinal circuit connectivity, including in vivo electrophysiology, spinal circuit tracing, histological analyses, and sensorimotor behavioral assessments. We also leverage transgenic animal models, targeted genetic manipulations via viral vectors, and advanced computational tools such as deep neural networks for data processing and analysis.