Michael J Higley MD,PhD

Assistant Professor of Neurobiology; Primary Member, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair (CNNR); Member, Kavli Institute fir Neuroscience

Research Interests

Synaptic integration; GABAergic interneurons; Inhibition; 2-photon; Electrophysiology

Research Summary

The neocortex plays a central role in the processing, storage, and retrieval of information necessary for sensory perception and higher cognitive abilities. These functions depend on the capability of individual neurons to perform complex computations through the compartmentalization of electrical and biochemical signaling within their dendritic arbors. Our goal is to understand how the dynamic interactions of excitatory, inhibitory, and neuromodulatory inputs within different subcellular domains influence the activity of single neurons and the local networks in which they participate. By combining an array of methods, including electrophysiology, multiphoton microscopy, and optogenetic manipulation of targeted neuronal populations, we are bridging the gaps between molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience. With this multilevel approach, we hope to generate new insights into the neural mechanisms of complex behaviors and the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and autism.

Extensive Research Description

The neocortex plays a central role in the processing, storage, and retrieval of information necessary for sensory perception and higher cognitive abilities. These functions depend on the capability of individual neurons to perform complex computations through the compartmentalization of electrical and biochemical signaling within their dendritic arbors. Our goal is to understand how the dynamic interactions of excitatory, inhibitory, and neuromodulatory inputs within different subcellular domains influence the activity of single neurons and the local networks in which they participate. By combining an array of methods, including electrophysiology, multiphoton microscopy, and optogenetic manipulation of targeted neuronal populations, we are bridging the gaps between molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience. With this multilevel approach, we hope to generate new insights into the neural mechanisms of complex behaviors and the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and autism.

Selected Publications