Breadcrumb

null Per Jesper Sjöström, M.Sc., PhD

Scientist, RI-MUHC , Montreal General Hospital

Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) Program

Centre for Translational Biology

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

 

Keywords

synaptic plasticity • learning and memory • neuronal circuits • synaptic disease

Research Focus

My research focuses on understanding the functioning of the brain, by elucidating the properties and the mechanistic underpinnings of plasticity, as well as its functional impact. In addition, we investigate the connectivity patterns that ensue from plasticity and how these are shaped by activity. Our goal is to understand the role of plasticity in health as well as in pathologies such as epilepsy and autism. To do this, my team employs state-of-the-art technology such as quadruple whole-cell recordings, two-photon laser scanning microscopy, and computer simulations. Neuroscientists believe that learning occurs at synaptic connections between neurons in the brain. Events in the outside world cause patterns of activity that elicit changes in connective strengths. This synaptic plasticity thus stores information in neuronal circuits, thereby resulting in re-wiring of cortical sub-networks. There are therefore close links between activity patterns and connectivity motifs, and the cortical computations that bring about recall.

Selected Publications

Click on Pubmed to see my current publications list

  • Abrahamsson T, Chou YCC, Li SY, Mancino A, Costa RP, Brock JA, Nuro E, Buchanan KA, Elgar D, Blackman AV, Tudor-Jones A, Oyrer J, Farmer WT, Murai KK, & Sjöström PJ: Differential Regulation of Evoked and Spontaneous Release by Presynaptic NMDA Receptors. Neuron (2017) 96(4):839-855.

  • Dore K, Stein IS, Brock JA, Castillo PE, Zito K, & Sjöström PJ: Unconventional NMDA Receptor Signaling. The Journal of Neuroscience (2017) 37(45):10800-10807.

  • Maheux J, Froemke RC, & Sjöström PJ: Functional plasticity at dendritic synapses. In Dendrites, 3rd ed (April 2016) Eds. Greg Stuart, Nelson Spruston, Michael Häusser, Oxford University Press.

  • Buchanan KA, Blackman AV, Moreau AW, Elgar D, Costa RP, Lalanne T, Tudor Jones AA, Oyrer J, & Sjöström PJ: Target-Specific Expression of Presynaptic NMDA Receptors in Neocortical Microcircuits. Neuron (2012) 75:451-466.

  • Markram H, Gerstner MW & Sjöström PJ: A history of spike-timing-dependent plasticity. Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience (2011) 3(4):1-24.