HANSEL LAB

One of the most intriguing features of our brains is the ability to learn and to adapt. The main goal of our lab is to study the mechanisms underlying the formation of memories. We focus on the cerebellum, which is a brain area involved in motor coordination and learning, and which also plays a role in cognitive functions. Using patch-clamp recordings from cerebellar slice preparations, we examine activity-dependent changes in synaptic strength (synaptic plasticity) as well as changes in membrane excitability (intrinsic plasticity) that may form a cellular basis for information storage and learning. We also study abnormalities in synaptic physiology and in cerebellar function in autism, which often is associated with motor problems.

Primary location: Chicago United States