Department of Neurobiology 

Zvi Vogel, Head

Research in Neuroscience in the Department of Neurobiology encompasses a wide variety of subjects, in areas including cellular and molecular biology, neuroanatomy, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), physiology, pharmacology, psychophysics, and computational sciences.

Basically, the research of the various groups of the Department covers, among others, the following topics:

• Analysis of the molecular and cellular basis of neuronal and synaptic function.
  
  
• Imaging of neuronal activity underlying higher brain functions.
  
  
• Tracing and characterization of neuronal communication profiles.
  
  
• Characterization of the CNS response to trauma and lesion; developing molecular and cellular therapeutic agents.
  
  
• Determination of the underlying processes and mechanisms of vision, perception, learning, and memory in behaving rodents and primates.
  
  
• Computer modeling of brain function.
  

At the Neurobiology Department, the structure, function, development, and plasticity of the nervous system are studied at various levels of analysis, using different types of cell and experimental animal models. The groups studying neuronal function at the molecular and cellular levels use in vitro systems ranging from non-neuronal and neuronal cell lines to primary neuronal and glial cells of cerebellar, hippocampal and cortical origin. In many cases, the cells studied are transfected with genes of interest. These cell systems allow the study of the roles of various components of the nervous system, including cell surface membrane components, specific enzymes, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, growth factors, neuroreceptors, lipid components, ionic channels and cytoskeletal constituents. Algorithms for the synaptic plasticity between neurons, and the role of dendritic ion channels in synaptic input and information processing, are also being studied. Injury models of nerve lesion and oxidative stress paradigms are applied to examine the principles of CNS regeneration, rescue from ischemia and stroke, and apoptotic cell death and senescence.

The groups studying the CNS at the system level are striving to understand the complex neuronal mechanisms underlying learning, memory, and sensory processing (vision, taste, smell), and to determine the relationship between brain and mind. Using track tracing methods, the rules governing the interconnections in the visual cortex are being unraveled. Behavioral studies focus on principles of learning and consolidation, cortical information processing, learning disabilities, and addiction. Functional brain imaging of the human visual cortex is being studied by various techniques, including fMRI. Psychophysical approaches are being used to define processes involved in image segmentation, learning and memory skill acquisition, motor control, and language. Nearly 20 groups of researchers carry out both independent studies and collaborative research with colleagues from within the Department and outside it.

E. Ahissar 
ehud.ahissar@weizmann.ac.il

Active sensing: Principles of sensory processing within the sensory-motor loop.

1.  Encoding, decoding and representations of vibrissal touch in the rat: Electrophysiology, neuropharmacology, behavior, theory.

2.  Modifications of vibrissal processing by learning: Neuronal plasticity, role of acetylcholine, theory.

3.  Encoding, sensory-motor control, and learning in humans: Touch and vision.

Y. Dudai 
yadin.dudai@weizmann.ac.il

The role of saliency-and novelty-detectors in the acquisition and retention of memory in brain.

Mechanisms of memory consolidation, reconsolidation and extinction in the mammalian brain.

Theories of learning and memory.

I. Ginzburg 
irith.ginzburg@weizmann.ac.il

Control of expression of tau protein in normal and diseased brains (Alzheimer's).

Neuronal polarity: Control of expression of microtubule genes.

A. Grinvald 
amiram.grinvald@weizmann.ac.il

The functional architecture underlying visual perception.
A. Grinvald, H. Slovin, M. Tsodyks, E. Ahissar, A. Arieli

Cortical dynamics underlying higher brain functions in behaving monkeys.
A. Grinvald, H. Slovin, M. Tsodyks, E. Ahissar, A. Arieli

The space-time dynamics of cortical activity as revealed by population activity (EEG, LFP and real-time optical imaging) coupled with single-unit and intracellular recordings.
A. Grinvald, H. Slovin, M. Tsodyks, E. Ahissar, A. Arieli

The Interactions between evoked and on-going activity and their potential functional role in cortical processing.
A. Grinvald, H. Slovin, M. Tsodyks, E. Ahissar, A. Arieli

The mechanisms responsible for neuroimaging based on the cortical microcirculation.
A. Grinvald, H. Slovin, M. Tsodyks, E. Ahissar, A. Arieli

Y. Koch
y.koch@weizmann.ac.il

Regulation of GnRH expression in the mammary gland.

Development of cytotoxic analogs of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

Expression and functions of GnRH-II in the brain and in T lymphocytes.

I. Lampl
ilan.lampl@weizmann.ac.il

Construction of receptive field properties in the primary visual cortex

Synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex

Noise and synchrony in the mammalian cortex

S. Lev
sima.lev@weizmann.ac.il

Molecular Aspects of Neuronal Survival Differentiation and Degeneration.

1.  Signal transduction mediated by the calcium regulated tyrosine kinase, PYK2 in neuronal cells.

2.  Molecular mechanism of retinal degeneration and blindness.

3.  Cellular function of a novel family of human genes related to the Drosophila retinal degeneration B (rdgB) in the central nervous system.

R. Malach
rafael.malach@weizmann.ac.il

Mapping object-related areas in the human brain.

1.  Gestalt effects in the human brain.

2.  Dynamics of object-selective activation.

3.  Principles of organization of object areas in the human brain.

D. Sagi 
dov.sagi@weizmann.ac.il

Human vision, with an emphasis on processes involved in image segmentation, learning, and memory.

M. Schwartz 
michal.schwartz@weizmann.ac.il

The cross-talk between the immune and nervous systems � autoimmunity as a mechanism of tissue repair: Molecular, cellular, physiological and behavioral aspects.

Immunological aspects of neuronal loss in neurodegenerative and mental disorders (Alzheimer�s, ALS, Huntingdon, Glaucoma).

Spinal cord injury and repair

Development of vaccination for neurodegenerative disorders.

Neurogenesis (stem cells) and inflammation in the CNS.

M. Segal
menahem.segal@weizmann.ac.il

Physiology and behavior in transgenic mice.

Neuromodulation in the brain.

Intracellular calcium in neurons.

I. Silman
israel.silman@weizmann.ac.il

Localization and anchorage to the plasma membrane of acetylcholinestera.

Regulation of folding and assembly of acetylcholinesterase.

Three-dimensional structure of acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase-anticholinesterase complexes.

V. Teichberg
vivian.teichberg@weizmann.ac.il

Enzymatic scavenging of blood glutamate in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
V. Teichberg, I. Maoz, G. Kleinman, Y. Wang

1.  In vitro evolution of a glutamate scavenging system for the treatment of stroke, head trauma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

2.  Glutamate and glucose transport in an in vitro model of the blood brain barrier

Protein-protein interactions of glutamate receptors at the synaptic membrane.
V. Teichberg, J. Ratnam

Interactions of glutamate receptors and anti-Glutamate receptor antibodies in epilepsy.
V. Teichberg, Y. Ganor, K. Cohen-Kashi

M. Tsodyks
misha@weizmann.ac.il

Modeling of cortical neuronal populations: From microcircuits to large scale networks.

Information transmission through dynamic synapses.

Population activity in visual cortex.

Z. Vogel 
zvi.vogel@weizmann.ac.il

Regulation of signaling and changes in gene expression by chronic cannabinoid or opiate exposure.

The cannabinoid ligands, their endogenous ligands and signal transduction.

Molecular mechanisms of opiate addiction, tolerance and withdrawal.

E. Yavin
ephraim.yavin@weizmann.ac.il

Signal transduction and protein kinase C isozymes in brain of normal and growth-retarded fetuses.

Free radicals and lipid modulators in the developing and aging brain.

Novel genes during oxidative stress in utero and role of docosahexaenoic acid.

 This file was last modified on 03/06/2012 13:42:08

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