Molecular and Cellular Physiology of Synaptic Transmission

We use molecular, cellular, genetic, live imaging, and electrophysiological techniques to study synaptic transmission in a variety of mammalian central nervous system synapses.   We are mostly focused on the physiology of presynaptic terminals. We believe that a comprehensive theoretical understanding will be essential for figuring out the nature of information processing and storage in neuronal ganglia and brains throughout the animal kingdom because of a phenomenon termed frequency dynamics, or short-term synaptic plasticity that seems to be expressed, in one form or another, by the presynatic terminals of all chemical synapses. 

We are a small group, and we care a lot about good experimental design because we believe this gives us a better chance of thinking outside of the box when standard ideas come up short.  Click here for a tour of our current model of first principles underlying the function of presynaptic terminals, and here for a video where I explained the backstory at a remembrance ceremony for my PhD adviser.  Some of our findings have generated intriguing predictions about the spatial organization of vesicles within presynaptic terminals, which we recently tested using  electron microscopy tomography in collaboration with another group.  Click here for our fantastic institute.  Click here for local attractions.