Section: Figures

Postdoctoral Position Available

Mark Alkema, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Assistant Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Neurobiology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Program in Neuroscience

Forward locomotion of wild-type animals is accompanied by oscillatory head movements. Anterior touch of wild-type animals with an eyelash induces backing during which head oscillations are suppressed. Tyramine deficient  mutants fail to suppress head oscillations during backing.

Model for the neural circuit that regulates the suppression of head oscillations in response to anterior touch. Tactile stimulation of the anterior touch sensory neurons (ALM/AVM) leads to the activation of the backward locomotion command neurons (AVD/AVA). The tyraminergic RIM neurons are activated through gap junctions by the AVA neurons, leading to the release of tyramine and the inhibition of the cholinergic head motor neurons, of head muscle contractions, and consequently of head oscillations.

Office: 717
Phone: 508-856-6158
E-mail: Mark.Alkema@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Neurobiology, Organisms - C. elegans, Learning and Memory, Neuromodulation , Genetics

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Postdoctoral Position Available A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Mark Alkema for additional details.