David R. Ladle

My lab is interested in the development of neural circuits. The establishment of appropriate connections between specific neurons generates an organism's perception of the outside world and controls behavioral responses. We use the relatively simple circuits in the spinal cord that control reflex movements as a model system to understand the molecular and physiological mechanisms by which circuits develop. These studies employ a wide variety of techniques including mouse genetics, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy and other advanced imaging techniques.