Biography
I have been at Keele since 2002. My first degree (Msc), in Molecular Biology from the University of Warsaw was followed by the PhD in Neuroscience and habilitation in Neurobiology from the Nencki Institute, Warsaw.
I was working in several scientific institutions in Poland before departing to the U.S (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Washington University, St. Louis) before coming to the UK (Cardiff University).
Research and scholarship
A great deal of progress has been made in our understanding of brain function, in recent years, but we still do not know precisely how this organ acquires, stores and recalls information.
A common assumption is, that it is done somehow via changes in synaptic weights and connectivity between neurons (plastic changes). Studying changes in neuronal transmission and connectivity in intact animals during learning it is quite a big task as we usually do not know, where these changes take a place, nor what they mean and whether they are specifically related to learning and memory or not.
Those are the main reasons for studying mechanisms of plastic changes using model systems. For example, the barrel cortex of rodents, where vibrissae are represented. The unique anatomical organisation of this cortical area enables quantitative and very accurate measurement of plasticity induced by change in experience. For instance, due to changing vibrissae complement for some period of time.
My research aims to understand how experience induces neuronal plasticity in the neocortex and how this plasticity is maintained; namely, to discover the physiological mechanisms of synaptic potentiation and depression, how these changes are stabilised during development and the molecules involved. Recently, I am also interested in the mechanisms underlying simple forms of learning that may be induced in the barrel cortex with use of whiskers, synaptic changes driven by circadian rhythms and the consequences of demyelination.
Teaching
- Second Year tutor
- LSC-10029 – Introduction to Neuroscience
- LSC-10040 - Introduction to Human Physiology
- LSC-10028 - Cell and Molecular Neuroscience
- LSC-20005 - Endocrinology and Signalling
- PHA-20004 - Principles of Pharmacology
- LSC-20027 - From Neurone to Brain (module manager)
- LSC-20023 - Development and Evolution of Nervous System
- LSC-30021 – Research Project in Neuroscience (module manager)
- LSC30022- Non-Experimental Project in Neuroscience (module manager)
- LSC-30023 - Final Year Dissertation in Neuroscience (module manager)
Selected Publications
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Stimulus intensity determines experience-dependent modifications in neocortical neuron firing rates. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 410-419, vol. 41(4). link> doi> full text>2015.
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Time-course and mechanisms of homeostatic plasticity in layers 2/3 and 5 of the barrel cortex. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, vol. 372(1715). link> doi> full text>2017.
- 2015.
- 2011.
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Rapid, learning-induced inhibitory synaptogenesis in murine barrel field. J Neurosci, 1176-1184, vol. 30(3). link> doi> full text>2010.
Full Publications Listshow
Journal Articles
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Time-course and mechanisms of homeostatic plasticity in layers 2/3 and 5 of the barrel cortex. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, vol. 372(1715). link> doi> full text>2017.
- 2015.
-
Stimulus intensity determines experience-dependent modifications in neocortical neuron firing rates. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 410-419, vol. 41(4). link> doi> full text>2015.
- 2011.
-
Rapid, learning-induced inhibitory synaptogenesis in murine barrel field. J Neurosci, 1176-1184, vol. 30(3). link> doi> full text>2010.
- 2009.
- 2009.
- 2008.
- 2007.
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Characterization and plasticity of the double synapse spines in the barrel cortex of the mouse. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars), 99-104, vol. 66(2). link>2006.
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The origin of cortical surround receptive fields studied in the barrel cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 8380-8391, vol. 23(23). doi>2003.
- 2003.
- 2002.
- 2001.
- 2001.
- 2000.
- 2000.
- 2000.
- 2000.
- 1999.
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Experience-dependent plasticity in the barrel cortex of adolescent alpha/delta-CREB deficient mice. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 436, vol. 10. link>1998.
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Metabolic activation and receptive field properties in barrel cortex of vibrissa deprived rodents. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 227, vol. 10. link>1998.
- 1998.
- 1998.
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Experience-dependent changes in vibrissae evoked responses in the rodent barrel cortex. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars), 309-320, vol. 58(4). link>1998.
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Evidence for heterosynaptic depression of vibrissae responses in rat barrel cortex. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, P94, vol. 501P. link>1997.
- 1996.
- 1996.
- 1996.
- 1996.
- 1995.
- 1995.
- 1995.
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NMDA AND AMPA RECEPTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PLASTICITY OF THE BARREL CORTEX OF THE MOUSE. JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, S50, vol. 63. link>1994.
- 1994.
- 1993.
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Functional plasticity and neurotransmitter receptor binding in the vibrissal barrel cortex. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars), 161-173, vol. 53(1). link>1993.
- 1992.
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IONOTROPIC AND METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS IN DEVELOPING MOUSE BARREL CORTEX. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 122. link>1992.
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Ontogenesis of muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding in the barrel cortex of mice. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars), 48, vol. 52(1). link>1992.
- 1989.
Other
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The origin of cortical surround receptive fields studied in the barrel field.2004.
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Effect of a point mutation at the Thr-286 site of alpha-CaMKII on plasticity measured by sensory evoked field EPSPs. Neural Mechanisms of Learning and Memory.2003.
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The effect of deleting AMPA receptor subunit GluR A on experience-dependent plasticity in mouse barrel cortex.2003.
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Cholinergic markers in the plasticity of murine barrel field. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) (pp. 163-172, vol. 50). link>1990.