One
of the fundamental problems in neuroscience is understanding
how circuit function arises from the intrinsic properties
of individual neurons and their synaptic connections. Of
particular interest to us today is the extent to which similar
circuit outputs can be generated by multiple mechanisms,
both in different individual animals, or in the same animal
over its life-time. As an experimental preparation we exploit
the advantages of the central pattern generating circuits
in the crusctacean stomatogastric nervous system. Central
pattern generators are groups of neurons found in vertebrate
and invertebrate nervous systems responsible for the generation
of specific rhythmic behaviors such as walking, swimming,
and breathing. The central pattern generators in the stomatogastric
ganglion (STG) of lobsters and crabs are ideal for many
analyses because the STG has only about 30 large neurons,
the connectivity is established, the neurons are easy to
record from, and when the stomatogastric ganglion is removed
from the animal, it continues to produce rhythmic motor
patterns.
How
do neuromodulators and neuromodulatory neurons reconfigure
circuits so that the same group of neurons can produce
a variety of behaviorally relevant outputs?
- How can networks be both stable over the life-time of
the animal despite ongoing turnover of membrane proteins
such as channels and receptors? How is network stability
maintained over long time periods? To what extent do similar
network outputs result from different underlying mechanisms
or solutions?
To address these questions we employ electrophysiological,
biophysical, computational, anatomical, biochemical, and
molecular techniques.
Recent
Publications:
Marder E. Electrical synapses: rectification demystified. Curr Biol. 2009;19(1):R34-5.
Rehm KJ, Taylor AL, Pulver SR, Marder E. Spectral analyses reveal the presence of adult-like activity in the embryonic stomatogastric motor patterns of the lobster, Homarus americanus. J Neurophysiol. 2008;99(6):3104-22.
Rehm KJ, Deeg KE, Marder E. Developmental regulation of neuromodulator function in the stomatogastric ganglion of the lobster, Homarus americanus. J Neurosci. 2008;28(39):9828-39.
Marder E. The roads not taken. Curr Biol. 2008;18(17):R725-R6.
Cape SS, Rehm KJ, Ma M, Marder E, Li L. Mass spectral comparison of the neuropeptide complement of the stomatogastric ganglion and brain in the adult and embryonic lobster, Homarus americanus. J Neurochem. 2008;105(3):690-702.
Schulz DJ, Goaillard JM, Marder EE. Quantitative expression profiling of identified neurons reveals cell-specific constraints on highly variable levels of gene expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007;104(32):13187-91. [full text in PubMed Central]
Marder E, Tobin AE, Grashow R. How tightly tuned are network parameters? Insight from computational and experimental studies in small rhythmic motor networks. Prog Brain Res. 2007;165:193-200.
Marder E, Harris B, Ganetzky B, Kyriacou CB. Tributes to Jeff Hall. J Neurogenet. 2007;21(4):169-82.
Marder E, Bucher D. Understanding circuit dynamics using the stomatogastric nervous system of lobsters and crabs. Annu Rev Physiol. 2007;69:291-316.
Marder E. Nervous systems made simple. Nature. 2007;448(7153):537.
Fu Q, Tang LS, Marder E, Li L. Mass spectrometric characterization and physiological actions of VPNDWAHFRGSWamide, a novel B type allatostatin in the crab, Cancer borealis. J Neurochem. 2007;101(4):1099-107.
Cruz-Bermudez ND, Marder E. Multiple modulators act on the cardiac ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis. J Exp Biol. 2007;210(Pt 16):2873-84.
Bucher D, Johnson CD, Marder E. Neuronal morphology and neuropil structure in the stomatogastric ganglion of the lobster, Homarus americanus. J Comp Neurol. 2007;501(2):185-205.
Thirumalai V, Prinz AA, Johnson CD, Marder E. Red pigment concentrating hormone strongly enhances the strength of the feedback to the pyloric rhythm oscillator but has little effect on pyloric rhythm period. J Neurophysiol. 2006;95(3):1762-70.
Taylor AL, Hickey TJ, Prinz AA, Marder E. Structure and visualization of high-dimensional conductance spaces. J Neurophysiol. 2006;96(2):891-905.
Schulz DJ, Goaillard JM, Marder E. Variable channel expression in identified single and electrically coupled neurons in different animals. Nat Neurosci. 2006;9(3):356-62.
Marder E, Goaillard JM. Variability, compensation and homeostasis in neuron and network function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2006;7(7):563-74.
Marder E. Neurobiology: extending influence. Nature. 2006;441(7094):702-3.
Marder E. Rejecting arrogance. Curr Biol. 2006;16(3):R70.
Goaillard JM, Marder E. Dynamic clamp analyses of cardiac, endocrine, and neural function. Physiology (Bethesda). 2006;21:197-207.
Cruz-Bermudez ND, Fu Q, Kutz-Naber KK, Christie AE, Li L, Marder E. Mass spectrometric characterization and physiological actions of GAHKNYLRFamide, a novel FMRFamide-like peptide from crabs of the genus Cancer. J Neurochem. 2006;97(3):784-99.
Bucher D, Taylor AL, Marder E. Central pattern generating neurons simultaneously express fast and slow rhythmic activities in the stomatogastric ganglion. J Neurophysiol. 2006;95(6):3617-32.
Billimoria CP, DiCaprio RA, Birmingham JT, Abbott LF, Marder E. Neuromodulation of spike-timing precision in sensory neurons. J Neurosci. 2006;26(22):5910-9.
Soto-Trevino C, Rabbah P, Marder E, Nadim F. Computational model of electrically coupled, intrinsically distinct pacemaker neurons. J Neurophysiol. 2005;94(1):590-604. [full text in PubMed Central]
Pulver SR, Bucher D, Simon DJ, Marder E. Constant amplitude of postsynaptic responses for single presynaptic action potentials but not bursting input during growth of an identified neuromuscular junction in the lobster, Homarus americanus. J Neurobiol. 2005;62(1):47-61.
Marder E, Rehm KJ. Development of central pattern generating circuits. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2005;15(1):86-93.
Marder E, Bucher D, Schulz DJ, Taylor AL. Invertebrate central pattern generation moves along. Curr Biol. 2005;15(17):R685-99.
Bucher D, Prinz AA, Marder E. Animal-to-animal variability in motor pattern production in adults and during growth. J Neurosci. 2005;25(7):1611-9.
Billimoria CP, Li L, Marder E. Profiling of neuropeptides released at the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis with mass spectrometry. J Neurochem. 2005;95(1):191-9.
Last update:
February 5, 2009. E-mail comments or questions to the webmaster.
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