Publications

Sept. 27, 2012
Harnessing plasticity to understand learning and treat disease
A large body of evidence suggests that neural plasticity contributes to learning and disease. Recent studies suggest that cortical map plasticity is typically a transient phase that improves learning by increasing the pool of task-relevant responses. READ MORE

October 2012
Directing neural plasticity to understand and treat tinnitus
The functional organization of cortical and subcortical networks can be altered by sensory experience. Sensory deprivation destabilizes neural networks resulting in increased excitability, greater neural synchronization and increased spontaneous firing in cortical and subcortical neurons. READ MORE

October 2012
Repeatedly pairing vagus nerve stimulation with a movement reorganizes primary motor cortex.
Although sensory and motor systems support different functions, both systems exhibit experience-dependent cortical plasticity under similar conditions. READ MORE

July 2012
Complex Mixture Discrimination and the Role of Contaminants
Rats were trained in a 2-alternative odor choice task to discriminate between a 10-component odor mixture and the same mixture with one component removed and replaced with 1 of 3 concentrations of a different monomolecular odor (contaminant). READ MORE

May 2, 2012
Fabrication of Responsive, Softening Neural Interfaces
A novel processing method is described using photolithography to pattern thin-film flexible electronics on shape memory polymer substrates with mechanical properties tailored to improve biocompatability and enhance adhesion between the polymer substrate and metal layers. READ MORE

April 2012
Speech discrimination after early exposure to pulsed-noise or speech
Early experience of structured inputs and complex sound features generate lasting changes in tonotopy and receptive field properties of primary auditory cortex (A1). READ MORE

August 13, 2012
Neural mechanisms supporting robust discrimination of spectrally and temporally degraded speech
Cochlear implants provide good speech discrimination ability despite highly limited amount of information they transmit compared with normal cochlea. READ MORE

2012
The isometric pull task: a novel automated method for quantifying forelimb force generation in rats.
Hays SA, Khodaparast N, Sloan AM, Hulsey DR, Pantoja M, Ruiz AD, Kilgard MP, Rennaker RL. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 2012 (in press). READ MORE

2012
Three-Dimensional Flexible Electronics Enabled by Shape Memory Polymer Substrates for Responsive Neural Interfaces
Ware T, Simon D, Hearon K, Liu C, Shah S, Reeder J, Khodaparast N, Kilgard MP, Maitland DJ, Rennaker RL, Voit WE. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 2012 (in press). READ MORE