Research Abstract:
The vertebrate nervous system routinely achieves feats of pattern recognition unparalleled by modern computers. The natural algorithms underlying this pattern recognition and the neuronal circuitry computing them both represent targets for research in my lab. We rely upon a variety of techniques to explore these issues, including single neuron recordings from awake subjects, electrophysiological and optical recordings of auditory and visual neurons in acute brain slice preparations, focal glutamate uncaging in brain slices to map excitatory projections, and computational modeling of putative neuronal circuitry. These methods facilitate our main long-term objective of understanding how complex sounds are encoded in higher auditory centers of the brain, particularly under conditions of interfering noise. A more thorough understanding of this natural encoding has the potential to contribute to the engineering of improved devices for interfacing with humans, including hearing aids, auditory prostheses and computers capable of recognizing speech. We are also investigating novel methods for rewiring neuronal circuits in adult brains. Such techniques could be useful for treating stroke or brain injury when a critical brain function has been compromised.
Selected Publications:
Watkins PV, Chen TL, Barbour DL. Computational topographies of sensory cortex. Biol Cyber 2009 100(3):231-48.
Watkins PV, Barbour DL. Specialized neuronal adaptation for preserving input sensitivity. Nature Neurosci 2008 11:1259-61.
Barbour DL, Callaway EM. Excitatory local connections of superficial neurons in rat auditory cortex. J Neurosci 2008 28:11174-85.
Barbour DL, Wang X. Auditory cortical responses elicited in awake primates by random spectrum stimuli. J Neurosci 2003 23:7194–7206.
Barbour DL, Wang X. Contrast tuning in auditory cortex. Science 2003 299:1073–1075.
Last Updated: 08/10/2009 |