Neurobiology

Bernardo Sabatini, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Neurobiology

Sabatini Lab Website: http://sabatini.hms.harvard.edu

The main focus of my research laboratory is to understand the development and regulation of synapses in the brain and the relationship of these processes to behavior and disease.  Our studies include analysis of:

1. The biophysical processes that control the function of individual synapses
2. The mechanisms of regulation of synapses and neurons by neuromodulators such as dopamine, acetylcholine, and peptides
3. The relationship between synaptic plasticity and behavior
4. The role of perturbed synapse function in human neuropsychiatric diseases such as autism, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s

Our studies are performed in the mammalian brain and we focus on the analysis of hippocampus, cortex, and basal ganglia.  Recently, the analysis of the basal ganglia has become a major focus of the laboratory and we hope to perform a comprehensive analysis of the questions above in this brain structure.  Lastly, as necessary for our studies, we develop novel optical, electrophysiological, and behavioral approaches to carry out the proposed work. Greater detail and a complete list of publications can be found at our laboratory web site.