Sensory information is the basis of an integrated perception of reality and allows an organism to make informed decisions based upon events occurrin [...]

The medial olivocochlear (MOC) system aids in the prevention of age- and noise-induced hearing loss, and enhances the detection of salient sound in diverse sensory enviro [...]

The bulk of this dissertation focuses on D2 receptor-GIRK channel coupling. Chapter topics include how structural variants of the D2 receptor modulate G protein engagemen [...]

Unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are glutamatergic interneurons present in cerebellum-like structures. In mammals, they are found in cerebellum and the dorsal cochlear nucle [...]

The cochlear nuclei are the first brain centers for auditory processing, where synaptic inhibition shapes neural output. Using patch-clamp recordings in avian and mammali [...]

Fast chemical synapses mediate rapid communications between neurons. Interestingly, the strength of most synapses is not constant but dynamic, depending on the history of [...]

Understanding the molecular and genetic identity of neuron types is prerequisite to tractable control and investigation of the behavioral relevance of discrete neuronal t [...]

Cartwheel cells in the dorsal cochlear nucleus are glycinergic interneurons whose complex spike activity influences principal neuron responses. Using gramicidin perforate [...]

This dissertation investigates two unique phenomena, neurotransmitter co-release and neural oscillations, in early auditory regions where they have not been observed befo [...]