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Alan Gelperin, Ph.D.
Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center
3500 Market St.
Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience
Department of Neuroscience
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
(215) 898-5885
FAX: (215) 898-2084
E-mail: agelperin@monell.org
Click here for selected publications since Dr. Gelperin's arrival at Penn
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Synaptic plasticity and learning. Olfactory information processing in the
CNS. Electronic olfaction. Computational neuroscience.RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
Recording single neuron activity with both electrophysiological and optical recording techniques. Use of voltage and calcium sensitive dyes and biolistic application of dyes. Computer-controlled olfactometry and odor-mediated classical and operant conditioning. Two-photon microscopy and applications of caged neuroactive substances.RESEARCH SUMMARY
We study odor information processing and memory storage using biological, computational and electronic approaches. For studies of biological olfaction we use a molluscan model system and the mouse. In both systems, central odor processing networks reliably compute complex predictive relationships between odor and taste stimuli. Patch and optical recording methods are utilized to understand the role of oscillatory dynamics and neurogenesis in odor recognition and memory storage. Computational methods are used to generate biophysically-based network models of the olfactory system to identify general design principles shared by mollusks and mammals. With collaborators in electronic olfaction we work on developing new sensor arrays, sensor circuits and algorithms to enable an autonomous robot fitted with an electronic nose and wind detectors to localize odor sources.
