We are interested in understanding some of the fundamental questions in neuroscience: How are sensory inputs perceived by the nervous system? How do neural circuits process information to generate behavior? How do genes and drugs of abuse regulate these processes? To address these questions, we use the genetic model organism C. elegans because of its simple and well characterized nervous system. We take a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular genetics, cell biology, behavioral analysis, functional imaging, and electrophysiology.
The ability to sense and respond to sensory inputs is essential for life. There are five common senses in mammals: vision, smell, taste, hearing and touch. In addition, we rely on proprioception, which is often referred to as the sixth sense, to control body posture, balance and movement. Among the most common sensory stimuli are chemicals (smell and taste), mechanical forces (touch, hearing and proprioception) and light (vision). We are particularly interested in understanding how neurons detect and transduce mechanical and light stimuli, and how gene networks (e.g. receptors, ion channels and signaling molecules) regulate these processes.
Currently, we focus on proprioception and phototransduction. We have reported that proprioception is present in C. elegans. We have also made the surprising discovery that C. elegans, an organism that is generally believed to be blind (light-insensitive), in fact possesses a simple visual system, senses light and engages in phototaxis behavior. Our data reveal conservations in proprioception and phototransduction between worms and mammals. These studies establish C. elegans as a powerful genetic model for studying the mechanisms of proprioception and phototransduction and their related diseases.
How the nervous system and genes control behavior and drug addiction is a fundamental question in neurobiology. Despite intensive study, it remains largely enigmatic as to how neural circuits process information to produce behavior, and how genes and drugs of abuse regulate this process. This largely results from the immense complexity of the nervous systems. C. elegans has recently emerged as an excellent model for approaching these questions because of its simple and very well characterized nervous system. We have recently developed novel tools to quantify behavior and record neural circuit activity, which would greatly facilitate mapping of neural circuits underlying behavior. We currently focus on the neural circuits that control sensory behaviors (e.g. phototaxis and proprioception) and drug dependent behaviors. To do so, we take a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular genetics, behavioral analysis, in vivo calcium imaging, and electrophysiology.
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