Our broad goal in studying the retina is to connect psychophysics
to biophysics. We wish to relate quantitative measures of visual
performance (behavior) to their underlying causal mechanisms (neural
circuits, channels, and molecules). For example, we measure how
efficiently the retina transfers a low contrast image from photoreceptors
through its neural circuits to the brain. To do this, we present
visual stimuli to the retina in vitro and measure the rate and
timing of ganglion cell spiking to determine which code is most
efficient. Further, we measure the rate and timing of synaptic
vesicle release to learn how these quantized signals efficiently
generate the ganglion cell's code. Finally, we study certain biochemical
signaling cascades to learn how circuits amplify their signals
and how synaptic sensitivity is modulated (minutes to hours) to
match gradual shifts in the environment.
We focus on mammalian retina, taking advantage of the special
features in particular species; for example in mouse, molecular
genetics; in primate, color circuits. The projects involve close
collaboration within our group between specialists in circuitry
(electron and confocal microscopy), electrophysiology (intracellular
and whole-cell recording from intact retina and slice), molecular
biology / immunocytochemistry, and computational modeling.
Click here for a list of references.
