2007
| Interdisciplinary Research Projects |
Deficits in auditory and vestibular function in episodic ataxia type-1: a comparison of auditory and vestibular function in human patients and mouse modelsPI:
CoI:
I currently study neuronal development, particularly the formation of the initial segment in spinal motor neurons, in Dr. Peter Shrager's laboratory, using cell biology, molecular biology and electrophysiology techniques. I have become interested in research in Dr. Roman Giger's laboratory, which is focused on axon regeneration after spinal cord injury. This fellowship will provide me an opportunity to gain new knowledge and acquire techniques in a related area. I intend to find an independent research position in an area related to spinal cord injury in the future. We will study hearing and the sense of balance in human patients who suffer transient loss of motor control (patients diagnosed with Episodic Ataxia Type 1 EA1); and also in genetically-engineered mouse models of EA1. The genetic basis of this motor disorder is one of several types of mutation in a gene (Kcna1) that controls the excitability of nerve cells important for motor control. This gene is also present in neurons that are critical for hearing and for the sense of balance, but nothing is known about hearing and balance in these patients. Through parallel studies of hearing and balance in patients and in one EA1 mouse model as well as in a Kcna1 knockout mouse, and through coordinated electrophysiological analyses in these mice, we will gain a better understanding of the neural pathways that are not functioning properly in these patients. To the extent that the results in mice are similar to those found in patients, then we will be able to use the animal model to develop and test potential types of therapy for EA1 patients. One unusual feature of this research program is that the interdisciplinary work will be carried out in laboratories located in three institutions, the University of Rochester, the University of Washington, and the University of Leipzig, by neuroscientists with different but inter-related specialized research skills, all sharing an interest in the genetic foundation of normal and abnormal sensory and motor function. Cortical Surface Recording from the Monkey and Human BrainPI:
CoI:
At one time or another, we all may have considered the nightmare scenario of being paralyzed. Sadly, for some, this nightmare is all too real, and, until recently, there was very little hope for those trapped in a functionless body. However, there is now an ambitious program to tackle paralysis. This seeks aims to use changes in brain activity to control prosthetics – literally allowing thoughts to drive actions. Central to this project is the ability to read out brain activity. This is a challenging problem since, although we do currently have ways of recording brain activity, these damage the brain and don't remain functional for anyway near as long as desirable. The funds we have received from the Schmitt foundation will allow us to investigate a less invasive method of recording neural activity simultaneously from many different sites across the brain surface, that, if successful, could provide a long lasting way to read out brain activity and so bring us closer to an effective treatment for paralysis. Neuro-protective Factors in GlaucomaPI:
Glaucoma is a family of degenerative eye diseases that results in the progressive death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and eventually leads to blindness. Since the death of RGCs is irreversible, no cures are currently available. This proposed study aims to identify the role of Brn3b, a potential neuro-protective factor, in mature adult RGCs. We will use mouse glaucoma models to investigate the role of Brn3b, which is essential for the survival of RGCs during embryonic development, in protecting adult RGCs. Understanding Brn3b's role in protecting RGCs could lead to new treatments of glaucoma. Visual Learning in Naturalistic EnvironmentsPIs:
Physical therapy often leads to large learning effects in patients who are partially paralyzed by a stroke. In contrast, visual rehabilitation typically produces small learning effects in stroke patients who have lost some visual function. There are, of course, numerous differences between motor and visual neural systems that might explain why motor training in adults often leads to large and robust learning effects whereas visual training often leads to relatively small learning effects. To date, it is not known if the limited effects of visual training in adults are due to inherent properties of our visual systems or to our immature knowledge of how to optimally train people to improve their perceptual abilities. It may be the case that if we learn more about how to effectively train people's visual systems, then visual therapy could become as effective as physical therapy. We propose to test the hypothesis that visual learning effects reported to date are small because current visual training procedures are too far removed from naturalistic learning situations. Natural visual behavior differs from behavior in typical laboratory settings in a least two major ways -- it makes use of information obtained from other sensory modalities and from a significantly larger, dynamic, three-dimensional field of view. The proposed experiments will use virtual reality technologies to examine the effects of providing non-visual sensory information and information from the far peripheral field of view on visual learning in normal human adults. |
| Post-Doctoral Awards |
Xiaorong XuMentors
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