synapse

An essential foundation for neural circuit activity is the regulated flow of infor­ma­tion mediated by synaptic trans­mission. I maintain a deep interest in synaptic physiology and the role of synapses in neural circuit function. I studied the role of vesicular glutamate transporters and the glutamate-glutamine cycle in vesicle filling and developed a deep under­standing of synap­tic physiology. In my studies of the regulation of presynaptic glutamate, Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses of the hippocampus, with defined inputs in CA3 axons and quantifiable output in the postsynaptic responses of CA1 neurons, captured properties common to many synapses and served as a model for eluci­dating funda­men­tal principles of synaptic transmission. As my interests turned to neural cir­cuits, I searched for a system with similar advantages that could reduce the complexity inherent in the interactions between neurons. I chose to study what I considered to be the “Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapse” of neural circuits, the CPG controlling breathing.