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Cortical Development, Plasticity and Dynamics
Plasticity, or the adaptive response of the brain to changes in inputs, is essential to brain
development and function. The developing brain requires a genetic blueprint but is also acutely
sensitive to the environment. The adult brain constantly adapts to changes in stimuli, and this
plasticity is manifest not only as learning and memory but also as dynamic changes in information
transmission and processing. The goal of the Sur laboratory is to understand long-term plasticity
and short-term dynamics in networks of the developing and adult cortex. In addition, we aim to use insights from brain development to understand mechanisms of developmental brain disorders.
Recent Publications
Lyckman A.W., Horng S., Leamey C.A., Tropea D., Watakabe A., Van Wart A., McCurry C., Yamamori T., Sur M.
Gene expression patterns in visual cortex during the critical period: synaptic stabilization and reversal by visual deprivation.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 105(27):9409-14. 2008. [PDF]
Schummers J., Yu H., Sur M.
Tuned responses of astrocytes
and their influence on hemodynamic signals in the visual
cortex.
Science 320(5883):1638-43, 2008. [PDF]
Wilson N.R., Ty M.T., Ingber D.E., Sur M. and Liu G.
Synaptic reorganization in scaled networks of controlled size.
Journal of Neuroscience 27 (50):13581, 2007.[PDF]
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Recent News
" Picturing our thoughts, "
Boston Globe, August 17, 2008.
" Brain scientists spot nature/nurture gene link,"
MIT News Office, July 15, 2008.
" MIT unlocks mystery behind brain imaging, "
MIT News Office, June 19, 2008.
" Star-Shaped Brain Cells Make Scans Possible, "
The Washington Post, June 19, 2008.
" New role for supporting brain cells, "
The Scientist, June 19, 2008.
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