Research

Influence of behavioral and arousal state on neurovascular coupling

Animals and humans continuously engage in small movements, such as fidgets, twitches and blinks. These motions are associated with changes in neural activity and hemodynaimic signals (Winder et al., Nature Neuro., 2017), and these spontaneous signals may contribute to ‘resting-state’ signals (Drew et al., Neuroscientist, 2019, Drew*, Mateo*, et al.,Neuron, 2020). Besides these motions, there are changes in arousal and sleep wake states that can drive large blood flow changes. We are investigating how these different state changes impact neurovascular coupling and hemodynamic signals by simultaneously monitoring behavior, neural activity, and blood flow in un-anesthetized and sleeping mice (Turner et al. eLife, 2020; Turner et al., J Neurosci, 2023).

Understanding how neurons communicate with blood vessels

Neurons and astrocytes dynamically regulate blood flow in the brain in response to their energetic demands. We use a suite of optical (2-photon microscopy, intrinsic imaging, fiber photometry), electrophysiological, computational, chemogenetic, and optogenetic approaches to dissect the cell-type and signaling pathways responsible for this control (Echagarruga et al., eLife, 2020).

Dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid movement

The movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is thought to play an important role in transporting metabolic waste out of the brain. Decreases or disruptions in this flow are thought to play a role in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. We use computational, physiological and anatomical approaches to understand normal CSF flow (Norwood et al., eLife, 2019). We are investigating how these flows can be driven by vascular dilations and interact with the mechanical properties of the brain (Kedarasetti et al, Scientific Reports 2020). We are also looking into how air pollution, which contributes to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, may impact normal CSF flow.