Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology
The University of California, Riverside
@ U C R
Research
Neuromodulation has been long thought to be important for regulating brain states, perception and decision making. Disregulation of neuromodulatory systems has been identified in several psychiatric diseases. Based on decades of work mainly in brain slices and anesthetized animals, we have accumulated a lot of knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of these neuromodulators. However, what is currently lacking is how these transmitters regulate perception and behavior. We now have the tools and methods to study these important questions.
Techniques

Well-controlled perceptual behavior
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In vivo electrophysiology: intracellular whole-cell patch clamp,
multi-channel extracellular recording
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In vivo calcium imaging
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Molecular and genetic tools to target specific cell types
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Computational modeling and theoretic approaches for network
dynamics analysis
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