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Neurobiology of associative learning in the mammalian brain is being studied at cellular and systems levels using both in vivo and in vitro techniques. Our program focuses on characterizing the ways that neurons store new information during associative learning at the cellular and subcellular levels. An important interest in our research program is on cellular mechanisms for altered learning in aging. We are using a combination of behavioral, biophysical and pharmacological approaches to address this question.
Most of our experiments are done with animals. We are also studying learning in humans with behavioral and imaging techniques, in an attempt to use the results of our animal work to better understand learning in the young and aging brain.
The Disterhoft laboratory is part of the
Department of Physiology of the Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine. In addition to his position as Professor in the
Medical School, Dr. Disterhoft is also affiliated with the Northwestern
University Institute for Neuroscience and the Integrated
Graduate Program in the Life Sciences. He is currently Editor
of Behavioral
Neuroscience.
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Hippocampal circuitry
The hippocampus lies within the temporal lobe of the human brain. The hippocampus is important for learning, shows decremental changes in aging and Alzheimer’s Disease, and is the structure that many of our studies focus on. On the left is a schematic diagram illustrating the location of the hippocampus within the rabbit brain, as well as a transverse section of the hippocampus demonstrating the intrinsic connections between hippocampal neurons. On the right is a CA1 pyramidal neuron filled with Lucifer yellow, demonstrating extensive dendritic branching (arborization). |
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