The human brain is the most complex structure in the body. It consists of about 100 billion neurons that make around 100 trillion synapses. These connections are constantly changing and the brain must maintain a stable level of electrical activity as it changes. If this balance is disrupted, conditions like epilepsy and schizophrenia can arise. How neurons achieve this feat is still a scientific mystery.
Our guest this month is Dr. Graeme Davis, professor in the department of biophysics at UC San Francisco. Dr. Davis hopes to solve the question of how the brain remains stable as it changes. His lab uses fly genetics to determine important genes involved in maintaining stable neural activity. Listen as Dr. Davis describes how one of these genes, dysbindin, is involved in stabilizing neural function and may have important implications in schizophrenia.
More on the
Davis Lab's research.
Hosted by Sama Ahmed
