NPB Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior |
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| Assistant Professor Center for Neuroscience 1515 Newton Ct. 530.754.7165 wmdebello (at) ucdavis (dot) edu |
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| Degrees: BS, Stanford University - Biology, 1990 PhD, Duke University - Neurobiology, 1996 |
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| Teaching Interests: Synaptic physiology; plasticity |
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| Research Interests: Structural Remodeling and Neural Gene Expression During Adaptive Plasticity. Experience shapes the functional capacity of the brain to suit the unique needs and environment of the individual. Our laboratory is interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie such adaptive change. To explore these issues we are studying adaptive plasticity in the barn owl sound localization pathway. We have recently shown that plasticity in this system involves topographically directed axonal sprouting and synaptogenesis. This observation has led us to ask: 1) How does the neural microcircuitry re-organize during adaptive plasticity? 2) How does the global pattern of gene expression change during adaptive plasticity? Our integrative approach in addressing these questions combines behavioral training, multielectrode recording, sound and visual stimulus presentation, anatomical tracing, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy and quantitative gene discovery techniques. |
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| Selected Publications: DeBello, W.M., Feldman, D.E., Knudsen, E.I. (2001) Adaptive Axonal Remodeling in the Midbrain Auditory Space Map. J. Neuroscience . 21(9):3161-3174. DeBello, W.M. and Knudsen, E.I. (2001) Adaptive Plasticity of the Auditory Space Map. Towards a Theory of Neuroplasticity. 13-30. Knudsen, E.I., Zheng W., DeBello, W.M. (2000) Traces of Learning in the auditory localization pathway. PNAS 97(22): 11815-20. |
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| Affiliation: Center for Neuroscience |