Benjamin Philpot, PhD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Importance of UBE3A for experience-dependent modifications of cortical synapses
$70,000
One way to understand brain abnormalities in those with AS is to actually study individual neurons using state-of-the-art micro-testing methods, for example, measure directly the electrical activities associated with function of the synapse in a single neuron. This technique requires great technical skill and that is the basis of this grant to Dr. Philpot and his colleagues who have experience in understanding and measuring electrical activity of neurons. Studies from this grant provided direct evidence of how neurons can change based on experience (e.g., show neuronal plasticity) and these studies have set the stage for more important work demonstrating in the living Angelman mouse how neurons undergo developmental changes in response to different environmental changes.