Synapse and Hearing Laboratory
In order to understand the
highly complex functions of the brain, we must understand how individual
neurons communicate with each other. This communication occurs at specialized
synaptic contacts, and the overall aim of our Group is to understand how
synaptic strength is regulated, and how synaptic signals are processed by
target neurons.
Group Leader: Professor Bruce Walmsley E :Bruce.Walmsley@anu.edu.au Group | Research | Recent
papers | Collaborations
Professor Bruce Walmsley BE, PhD,
DSc - Group LeaderDr Amy Eichner, BA, PhD - Postdoctoral
Fellow
Above:Amy, Monique, Bruce,
Richardson, James and Kia at JCSMR Open Day, 2003.
Current Research projects:
The properties of neurons and synapses in the central auditory pathways of deaf
mice
Ion channels and cell excitability of neurons of the auditory pathway
Developmental regulation of synaptic transmission
Ultrastructural investigation of presynaptic and postsynaptic features
of central synapses
Immunohistological studies of postsynaptic receptor clusterin
Inhibitory synapses in a rat model of multiple sclerosis
A variety of experimental techniques are used in our
laboratory:
Electrophysiological recording, incl patch-clamp techniques
Visualization of neurons and presynaptic terminals in thin slices,
using infra-red video and differential interference microscopy
Fluorescence microscopy
Serial-section electron microscopy of axons, synaptic contacts and
neurons
Three-dimensional reconstruction of synapses and neurons
Immunohistochemical labelling of postsynaptic receptors
Mathematical modelling and analysis of quantal synaptic transmission
Computational simulations of action potential propagation
Molecular, biochemical and pharmacological methods.
Collaborations
Professor REW Fyffe and Dr FJ Alvarez, Dept of Anatomy,
Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA Dr ID Forsythe, Dept of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology,
University of Leicester, Leicester, UK Dr B Robertson, Dept of Biochemistry, Imperial College,
London, UK Professor T Takehashi, Univ of Tokyo, Japan Dr RE Burke, NINDS, Natl Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
USA Associate Professor R Shepherd and Dr A Paolini, University
of Melbourne Professor R Leao, Facukdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto-SP, Brazil Professor F Rattay, TU-BIOMED, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
Hearing research techniques
