Theoretical and experimental analyses of neural circuits that control intersegmental differences in phase

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助的。神经科学的一个主要目标是了解神经回路的动力学。在大多数电路中，对固有神经特性和突触组织的忽视限制了我们理解性能的能力。这个项目利用了在运动过程中协调肢体运动的电路的突触组织的新发现。一个实验神经生理学和数学理论的综合程序将被用来解释动力学是如何从固有的神经元属性、突触动力学和突触组织的相互作用中产生的。使用耦合振子理论来指导神经生理学实验，并用实验结果来约束新模型的开发，将构建一个电路模型，并使用该模型来探索不同神经元的内在属性和突触连接如何结合在一起，产生对有效运动至关重要的肢体运动相位的稳定差异。这项建模工作将寻找控制协调电路动力学的一般原理。因为这些电路是许多神经系统的中心，所以结果应该适用于许多不同的系统。这个项目的许多组成部分都很适合本科生的研究。本科生将大量参与暑期研究项目和高级荣誉论文项目。为了加强他们对研究的介绍，一门高级本科课程将重点放在每周由代表不足群体的成功成员的演讲者举办的研究研讨会上，然后与演讲者共进午餐和进行讨论。为了磨练他们的陈述和沟通技巧，我们将鼓励学生在系级数学生物学研讨会系列中介绍他们的工作。加州大学戴维斯分校的REU项目也将招收学生，这些项目支持来自经济困难背景或代表不足的群体的学生。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A major goal of neuroscience is to understand the dynamics of neural circuits. In most circuits, ignorance of intrinsic neural properties and synaptic organization limits our ability to understand the performance. This project exploits new discoveries of the synaptic organization of a circuit that coordinates limb movements during locomotion. An integrated program of experimental neurophysiology and mathematical theory will be used to explain how dynamics emerge from the interactions of intrinsic neuronal properties, synaptic dynamics, and synaptic organization. Using coupled-oscillator theory to guide neurophysiological experiments, and experimental results to constrain development of new models, a model of the circuit will be constructed and used to explore how intrinsic properties of different neurons and synaptic connectivity combine to produce the stable differences in phase of limb movements that are essential for effective locomotion. This modeling work will search for general principles governing dynamics in coordinating circuits. Because these circuits are central to many neural systems, the results should be applicable to many different systems. Many components of this project lend themselves well to undergraduate research. Undergraduate students will be heavily involved in summer research programs and Senior Honors Thesis projects. To augment their introduction to research, an advanced undergraduate course will focus on weekly research seminars by speakers who are successful members of underrepresented groups, followed by lunch and discussion with the speaker. To hone their presentation and communication skills, students will be encouraged to present their work in the departmental mathematical biology seminar series. Students will also be recruited from UC Davis REU programs that support students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or from under-represented groups.