Sandra J. Kuhlman, PhD

As adults we constantly face challenges in our environment and must adapt our brain circuits to navigate new situations. The two driving questions of my research are: What are the neural substrates of learning? How are neural circuits for learning constructed in the first place? By splicing the DNA that codes for fluorescent proteins found in jellyfish and corals into the genome of mice, in combination with state-of-the-art multiphoton laser-scanning microscopy, we visualize and track the circuit changes that occur in the brains of animals as they learn new skills. The specific goal of my research is to understand the influence of cortical inhibitory circuits on sensory development and perceptual learning. I use a range of techniques, including electrophysiological recordings of targeted cell types in-vivo and in-vitro, 2-photon microscopy, behavioral methods, and computational analyses.