Research

Interrogating cerebellar functional organization with wide-field optical imaging

A major challenge in cerebellar physiology is determining how the stereotypic, conserved circuitry of the cerebellar cortex underlies its fundamental computations and contributions to behavior. We leverage novel approaches for wide-field optical imaging of the cerebellar cortex in awake, behaving mice, as well as intersectional strategies for sensing and manipulation of neurons, in order to determine how networks of cerebellar neurons are organized, and how the modulation of these networks contributes to motor and non-motor behavior.

Determining cerebellar interactions with seizure networks

While not traditionally associated with epilepsy or seizures, the cerebellum is a potentially key node in seizure networks, as cerebellar manipulations can attenuate seizures, and cerebellar alterations occurring with chronic epilepsy can predict comorbidities and negative outcomes, including sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We are examining how cerebellar neurons interact with seizure networks, including how the activity of different populations can be modulated to inhibit seizures, how chronic seizures impact cerebellar structure and function, and how these alterations lead to comorbidities and negative outcomes like SUDEP.

Funding sources

Current

"Cerebellar computations in health and epilepsy" (2024-2027)


Past

"Cerebellar computations in health and epilepsy" (2022-2023)