Research in neural excitability, synapses and glia focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate communication within the nervous system.
Faculty investigate how neurons generate and propagate electrical signals, the mechanisms of synaptic transmission and the essential roles of glial cells in supporting and modulating neural activity. These studies reveal fundamental principles of circuit function, synaptic plasticity and nervous system physiology. Insights from this work contribute to understanding neurological disorders and the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Faculty Mentors
| Name | Department | Research Area | Disease Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karina Alviña | Neuroscience | Cognition; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motivation and Emotion; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia; Psychiatric Disorders |
| Jennifer L. Bizon | Neuroscience | Cognition; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motivation and Emotion; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Sensory Systems | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia; Substance Use Disorder |
| Donald C. Bolser | Physiological Sciences | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | N/A |
| Robert M. Caudle | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Sensory Systems | Substance Use Disorder |
| Erica A. Dale | Neuroscience | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motor Systems; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Neuromuscular Disorders |
| Charles J. Frazier | Pharmacodynamics (College of Pharmacy) | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motivation and Emotion; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Substance Use Disorder |
| Brian L. Hoh | Neurosurgery | Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Stroke |
| Richard Johnson | Physiological Sciences | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Sensory Systems | N/A |
| Habibeh Khoshbouei | Neuroscience | Cognition; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motivation and Emotion; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Neuroimmunity | Substance Use Disorder |
| Ashok Kumar | Neuroscience | Cognition; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia |
| Ben Lewis | Psychiatry | Cognition; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motivation and Emotion; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Sensory Systems | Substance Use Disorder |
| Joanna R. Long | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | N/A |
| Duane A. Mitchell | Neurosurgery | Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Brain Cancer |
| Gordon S. Mitchell | Physical Therapy | Development; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Neuroimmunity | Spinal Cord Injury; Neuromuscular Disorders |
| Leonid L. Moroz | Neuroscience | Cognition; Development; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | N/A |
| Michael S. Okun | Neurology | Cognition; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Parkinson’s Disease |
| Karim Oweiss | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Cognition; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Sensory Systems | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia; Spinal Cord Injury; Neuromuscular Disorders; Parkinson’s Disease |
| Leah R. Reznikov | Physiological Sciences | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motivation and Emotion; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Neuromuscular Disorders; Psychiatric Disorders |
| Brandon Warren | Pharmacodynamics | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motivation and Emotion; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Psychiatric Disorders; Substance Use Disorder |