Laboratory for Neuronal Circuit Dynamics
The Laboratory for Neuronal Circuit Dynamics investigates mechanisms underlying the operation of neuronal circuits. Neuronal circuits operate through the interactions between individual neurons and assemblies of neurons. In addition to standard patch clamp techniques, we emphasize the use of optical recording techniques that allow us to monitor electrical and chemical signals in neuronal tissue at many sites simultaneously. With this aim in mind, we are developing and applying innovative optical imaging techniques based on environmentally-sensitive fluorescent probes. Membrane voltage, ion concentrations or second messenger levels can modulate the optical properties of such probes.
- Technologies for imaging neuronal activity
- Neuronal circuit dynamics
- December 25, 2009
- New fluorescent proteins report electrical signals of brain cells
- September 24, 2010
- The brain lights up
The dynamic activity of electrical signals in neuronal populations can now be visualized with a powerful tool
- October 24, 2008
- Brain waves
Electrical oscillations in one part of the brain suggest that it may interact with another to guide body movements
- February 16, 2007
- Lighting up the living brain
- AKEMANN, W.; MUTOH, H.; PERRON, A.; ROSSIER, J.; KNÖPFEL, T.:
"Imaging brain electric signals with genetically targeted voltage-sensitive fluorescent proteins."
Nat Methods.7(8): 643-649 (2010) - PERRON, A.; MUTOH, H.; LAUNEY, T.; KNÖPFEL, T.:
"Red-Shifted Voltage Sensitive Fluorescent Proteins"
Chemistry & Biology 16: 1268-1277 (2009) - MARCAGGI, P.; MUTOH, H.; DIMTROV, D.; BEATO, M.; KNÖPFEL, T.:
"Optical measurement of mGluR1 conformational changes reveals fast activation, slow deactivation and sensitization"
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106(27): 11388-11393 (2009) - MIDDLETON, S.J.; RACCA, C.; CUNNINGHAM, M.O.; TRAUB R.D.; MONNYER, H.; KNÖPFEL, T.; SCHOFIELD I.S.; JENKINS A.; WHITTINGTON, M. A.:
"High frequency network oscillations in cerebellar cortex"
Neuron 58: 763-774 (2008) - QIU, D.L.; KNÖPFEL, T.:
"An NMDA receptor/nitric oxide cascade in presynaptic parallel fiber-Purkinje neuron Long-Term Potentiation"
J. Neurosci. 27:3408-3415 (2007) - UUSISAARI, M.; OBATA, K.; KNÖPFEL, T.:
"Morphological and electrophysiological properties of GABAergic and non-GABAergic cells in the deep cerebellar nuclei"
J. Neurophysiol. 1:901-911 (2007) - AKEMANN, W., KNÖPFEL, T.:
"Interaction of Kv3 potassium channels and resurgent sodium current influences the rate of spontaneous firing of Purkinje neurons"
J. Neurosci. 26: 4602-4612 (2006) - MUTOH, H., YUAN, Q., KNÖPFEL, T.:
"Long-Term Depression at Olfactory Nerve Synapses"
J. Neurosci. 25: 4252-4259 (2005) - IWASATO, T., DATWANI, A., WOLF, A., NISHIYAMA, H., TAGUCHI, Y., TONEGAWA, S., KNÖPFEL, T., ERZURUMLU, R., ITOHARA, S.:
"Cortex-restricted disruption of NMDAR1 impairs neuronal patterns in the barrel cortex"
Nature 406: 726-731 (2000) - CHARPAK, S., GÄHWILER, B.H., DO, K.Q. & KNÖPFEL, T.:
"Potassium conductances in hippocampal neurons blocked by excitatory amino-acid transmitters"
Nature 347: 765-767 (1990)
Principal Investigator
- Thomas KNÖEPFEL
- Laboratory Head
Members
- Hiroki MUTOH
- Research Scientist
- Yun Kyung PARK
- Research Scientist
- Yukiko MISHINA
- Research Scientist
- Walther AKEMANN
- Research Scientist
- Sunita Ghimire GAUTAM
- Research Associate
- Naoyo HORIGUCHI
- Technical Staff I
- Yuka IWAMOTO
- Technical Staff I
- Nisha Jose PONNEDUTHAMKUZHY
- Technical Staff II
- Wataru SUZUKI
- Technical Staff II
- Ruth Mary EMPSON
- Senior Visiting Scientist
- Jean ROSSIER
- Senior Visiting Scientist
- Thomas BEHNISCH
- Senior Visiting Scientist
- Amelie PERRON
- Visiting Scientist
- Alan URBAN
- Visiting Scientist
- Atmika PAUDEL
- Part-time Staff

