Dr. Michael Ehlers Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
2008
Restoration of neocortial plasticity in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome
$95,000
In this research project, AS mice were studied at the time of birth and throughout the early days of life under controlled conditions that create different degrees of visual experience. This project was funded in collaboration with Dr. Philpot (see below) and extended further our understanding or how AS neurons behave and change under different stress conditions. In this situation, AS mice were housed in light and dark environments. Their neurons in the visual cortex were studied to document electrophysiological changes in single neurons. This work proved that AS neurons can undergo favorable developmental changes under certain conditions.