Synapses, circuits and behaviour

The research theme is studying the cellular and circuit mechanisms underpinning nervous system functions.

Neurons are the fundamental building blocks of the nervous system and unravelling the mechanisms that regulate neuronal excitability, communication and plasticity is key to understanding how the nervous system controls complex behaviours.

In this research theme, investigators exploit advanced imaging, electrophysiological, molecular genetic and quantitative behavioural approaches to understand the cellular and circuit mechanisms underpinning nervous system functions such as sensory perception, memory formation and the control of complex, adaptable behaviours in the healthy and diseased brain.

Our aim is to translate fundamental discoveries, through development of animal- and human-based models, to generate transformative therapeutic interventions for disorders that affect nervous system function.

Theme Lead: Prof Ian Duguid

Name Research interest
Almeida, Rafael Synaptic and non-synaptic neurotransmission in the zebrafish nervous system
Baranovic, Jelena Structure and function of neuroreceptors, synaptic transmission, ion channels, electrophysiology
Booker, Sam A Neurotransmitter signalling
Clemens, Ann Neural circuits of social behaviour
Cobb, Stuart  Novel therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders
Cousin, Michael Presynaptic Cell Biology
Daw, Michael Developmental Physiology of the Barrel Cortex
Donlin-Asp, Paul  
Duguid, Ian Neural circuits and motor behaviour
Evans, Mark Calcium signalling & hypoxia-response coupling
Fleetwood-Walker, Susan Molecular mechanisms of pain and analgesia
Gillingwater, Tom New therapies for neurodegenerative diseases
Gonzalez-Sulser, Alfredo Network analysis and therapeutic strategies in epilepsy
Greiss, Sebastian Genetic code expansion and neural circuits  
Jones, Ross Structure and function of the human neuromuscular junction
Jordan, Rebecca Neuronal mechanisms of learning and prediction
Karnani, Mahesh Neural circuits of drive
Kind, Peter Disorders of Brain Development  
Luksys, Gedi Computational cognitive neuroscience
Mitchell, Rory Receptor-mediated signal transduction
Morris, Richard Neurobiology of learning and memory
Nolan, Matthew Neural circuits and computation

Opazo, Patricio 

Synaptic repair mechanisms for the diseased brain
Pagan, Marino  
Ribeiro dos Louros, Susana Neurodevelopmental disorders

Robinson, Nick

 
Rochefort, Nathalie Neuronal processing of visual information  
Smillie, Karen Synaptic vesicle recycling
Sürmeli, Gülşen  Neural circuits of memory
Till, Sally Biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders
Torsney, Carole Somatosensory plasticity
Wood, Emma Memory and Space
Wyllie, David Physiology and pharmacology of ion channels