The unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration (NSI) is a new laboratory being established at the NIMH. This laboratory will utilize cutting-edge electrophysiological studies to determine how information is processed by the brain at the cellular, microcircuit, and systems levels to ultimately understand the computations that drive physiological behavior and psychiatric disorders. We utilize anatomy and whole-cell slice electrophysiology in combination with other techniques, including optogenetics, UV uncaging, transgenic mice, viral approaches, and pharmacology to dissect how synapses and intrinsic factors that control excitability in neurons are regulated by receptors that are implicated in psychiatric disorders and are the major target of most pharmacological treatments for this disease. For both anatomy and electrophysiology, it is imperative that tissue be of the highest quality. Vibratomes are specialized instruments used to slice brains for both anatomical and electrophysiological studies and have gained increased interest due to their remarkable slicing capabilities. Thus, these specialized instruments have made the endeavours of anatomy and electrophysiology more practical and increased the quality of the data. To meet the needs of the NSI Unit it has been determined that there is a critical need for Leica vibratomes and equipment needed to calibrate and maintain them.

 

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