Neural Homeostasis

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Professor and Associate Chairman, Department of Physiology, Northwestern University

EDUCATION:
PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Our research is directed toward the elucidation of central nervous system mechanisms responsible for the generation and modulation of rhythmic breathing efforts. In vivo and in vitro studies employ electrophysiological, neuroanatomical and molecular approaches to determine the neural circuitry and synaptic mechanisms underlying the control of this centrally generated motor behavior. Experiments are underway to identify: a) cellular properties and synaptic drives underlying the control of spinal respiratory motoneuron activity, b) cellular and network mechanisms giving rise to time-dependent (plastic) changes in respiratory motor output, and c) the neural pathways generating respiratory rhythm and controlling specific respiratory reflexes. Our central goal is to understand the neural basis for respiratory rhythm generation and the factors that convert this rhythm into a detailed motor pattern that differs amongst the various respiratory motor outputs.