Cortical Circuits of Vision

The diversity of neuron types and synaptic connectivity patterns in the cerebral cortex is astonishing. How this cellular and synaptic diversity contributes to cortical function is just beginning to emerge. Using the mouse visual system as an experimental model, I will discuss the mechanisms by which excitatory and inhibitory interactions between distinct neuron types contribute to the most basic operations performed by visual cortex. I will highlight how the functional and structural analysis of cortical circuits allows us to bridge the gap between system and cellular neuroscience.

Mechanisms underlying the developmental emergence of a complex learned motor program

Bird song is a complex behavior composed of multiple syllable types. In adult birds, each syllable is encoded by a distinct sequence of bursts in the premotor cortical area HVC. To understand how these sequences in HVC develop during vocal learning, we have recorded HVC neurons in juvenile zebra finches throughout vocal development. Early in vocal learning, neurons exhibited rhythmic (5-1 0 Hz), with different neurons active at different phases of the rhythm.

Alejandrina Cristia received a Scholar Award from the James S. McDonnell Foundation

Founded in 1950 by aerospace pioneer James S. McDonnell, the Foundation was established to "improve the quality of life," and does so by contributing to the generation of new knowledge through its support of research and scholarship. The Foundation awards grants via the Foundation-initiated, peer-reviewed proposal processes described in the 21st Century Science Initiative.

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