Research in Neuroscience in the Department of Neurobiology encompasses a wide variety of subjects, in areas including cellular and molecular biology, neuroanatomy, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), physiology, pharmacology, psychophysics, and computational sciences.

Basically, the research of the various groups of the Department covers, among others, the following topics:

• Analysis of the molecular and cellular basis of neuronal and synaptic function.

• Imaging of neuronal activity underlying higher brain functions.

• Tracing and characterization of neuronal communication profiles.

• Characterization of the CNS response to trauma and lesion; developing molecular and cellular therapeutic agents.

• Determination of the underlying processes and mechanisms of vision, perception, learning, and memory in behaving rodents and primates.

• Computer modeling of brain function.

At the Neurobiology Department, the structure, function, development, and plasticity of the nervous system are studied at various levels of analysis, using different types of cell and experimental animal models. The groups studying neuronal function at the molecular and cellular levels use in vitro systems ranging from non-neuronal and neuronal cell lines to primary neuronal and glial cells of cerebellar, hippocampal and cortical origin. In many cases, the cells studied are transfected with genes of interest. These cell systems allow the study of the roles of various components of the nervous system, including cell surface membrane components, specific enzymes, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, growth factors, neuroreceptors, lipid components, ionic channels and cytoskeletal constituents. Algorithms for the synaptic plasticity between neurons, and the role of dendritic ion channels in synaptic input and information processing, are also being studied. Injury models of nerve lesion and oxidative stress paradigms are applied to examine the principles of CNS regeneration, rescue from ischemia and stroke, and apoptotic cell death and senescence.

The groups studying the CNS at the system level are striving to understand the complex neuronal mechanisms underlying learning, memory, and sensory processing (vision, taste, smell), and to determine the relationship between brain and mind. Using track tracing methods, the rules governing the interconnections in the visual cortex are being unraveled. Behavioral studies focus on principles of learning and consolidation, cortical information processing, learning disabilities, and addiction. Functional brain imaging of the human visual cortex is being studied by various techniques, including fMRI. Psychophysical approaches are being used to define processes involved in image segmentation, learning and memory skill acquisition, motor control, and language. Nearly 20 groups of researchers carry out both independent studies and collaborative research with colleagues from within the Department and outside it.

Neurobiology Department Home Page:   http://www.weizmann.ac.il/neurobiology/

E. Ahissar

Adaptive perceptual processing: Principles of thalamo-cortical processing and its formation by experience

1. Encoding, decoding and representations of vibrissal touch in the rat: Electrophysiology, neuropharmacology and modelling.

2. Encoding, sensory-motor control and learning of manual touch in humans: Psychophysics.

3. Neuronal plasticity underlying learning in the somatosensory ("barrel") cortex and its modulation by acetylcholine: Electrophysiology & neuropharmacology.

Y. Dudai

The role of saliency-and novelty-detectors in the acquisition and retention of memory in brain.

Mechanisms of memory consolidation, reconsolidation and extinction in the mammalian brain.

Theories of learning and memory.

I. Ginzburg

Control of expression of tau protein in normal and diseased brains (Alzheimer's).

Neuronal polarity: Control of expression of microtubule genes.

A. Grinvald, H. Slovin, M. Tsodyks, E. Ahissar, A. Arieli

1. The functional architecture underlying visual perception.

2. Cortical dynamics underlying higher brain functions in behaving monkeys.

3. The space-time dynamics of cortical activity as revealed by population activity (EEG, LFP and real-time optical imaging) coupled with single-unit and intracellular recordings.

4. The Interactions between evoked and on-going activity and their potential functional role in cortical processing.

5. The mechanisms responsible for neuroimaging based on the cortical microcirculation.

Y. Koch

Regulation of GnRH expression in the mammary gland.

Development of cytotoxic analogs of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

Expression and functions of GnRH-II in the brain and in T lymphocytes.

S. Lev

Molecular Aspects of Neuronal Survival Differentiation and Degeneration.

1. Signal transduction mediated by the calcium regulated tyrosine kinase, PYK2 in neuronal cells.

2. Molecular mechanism of retinal degeneration and blindness.

3. Cellular function of a novel family of human genes related to the Drosophila retinal degeneration B (rdgB) in the central nervous system.

R. Malach

Mapping object-related areas in the human brain.

1. Gestalt effects in the human brain.

2. Dynamics of object-selective activation.

3. Principles of organization of object areas in the human brain.

H. Markram

Microcircuitry of neocortical columns.

Synaptic plasticity.

Neural coding.

D. Sagi

Human vision, with an emphasis on processes involved in image segmentation, learning, and memory.

M. Schwartz

Cross-talk between the imune and nervous system.

Physiological mechanisms of neuroprotection.

Beneficial autoimmunity.

Immunological aspects of CNS degenerative diseases.

M. Segal

Intracellular calcium in neurons.

Neuromodulation in the brain.

Physiology and behavior in transgenic mice.

I. Silman

Localization and anchorage to the plasma membrane of acetylcholinestera.

Regulation of folding and assembly of acetylcholinesterase.

Three-dimensional structure of acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase-anticholinesterase complexes.

V.I. Teichberg

Protein-protein interactions of glutamate receptors in neuronal plasticity.

In vitro evolution of a glutamate scavenging enzyme for the treatment of stroke, head trauma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Structure of glutamate receptors: Mechanism of activation and desensitization of glutamate receptors.

M. Tsodyks

Modeling of cortical neuronal populations: From microcircuits to large scale networks.

Information transmission through dynamic synapses.

Population activity in visual cortex.

Home Page: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/~bnmisha

Z. Vogel

Molecular mechanisms of opiate addiction, tolerance and withdrawal.

The cannabinoid ligands, their endogenous ligands and signal transduction.

Regulation of signaling by chronic agonist exposure.

Home Page: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/neurobiology/labs/vogel/index.html

E. Yavin

Signal transduction and protein kinase C isozymes in brain of normal and growth-retarded fetuses.

Free radicals and lipid modulators in the developing and aging brain.

Novel genes during oxidative stress in utero and role of docosahexaenoic acid.