Itch is an unpleasant sensation that evokes the reflex to scratch. Itch is mediated initially by a group of small-diameter sensory neurons in the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia (DRG),…
In neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, very different genetic mutations can give rise to similar behavioral and cognitive deficits. This genetic heterogeneity not only makes it difficult to understand disease…
Establishment of synaptic plasticity is essential for normal learning and memory and is impaired in numerous neuropsychiatric diseases including schizophrenia, autism, addiction and Alzheimer’s. While plasticity defects likely underlie many…
“Without the BRF grant, our team simply wouldn’t be able to do this work. If we succeed, it would be a big advance in the sense that we…
The brain is the most complex organ of the body. Cells within the brain, called neurons, communicate with each other to influence vision, movement, memories, emotion—just about every activity that…
Many neurological and psychiatric disorders including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and obsessive-compulsive disorder are related to the basal ganglia dysfunction. The basal ganglia circuits consist of two major subcircuits, called…
Current treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can leave behind as many people as they help. With support from a BRF seed grant, Stephanie C. Dulawa, Ph.D., hopes to change that.…
The goal of Dr. Chow’s project is to create the tools and methodology for disrupting cortical excitatory/inhibitory balance via non-invasive optogenetic perturbation. Disrupted E/I balance is thought to play a…
Dopaminergic neurons located at the ventral midbrain control movement, mood and motivation. Dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons is implicated in Parkinson’s disease, drug addiction, depression and schizophrenia. Generating dopaminergic neurons from…
Humans are highly visual animals and loss of any visual function can severely impact quality of life. Visual problems are among the ten most prevalent causes of disability in America…
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