MD, PhD, McGill University
Research Interests
Our research focuses on how neurons process information and how that processing impacts pain perception under normal and pathological conditions. This research is motivated by the view that deciphering how the processing of sensory information becomes deranged following neuropathy will help us understand and treat the perceptual abnormalities (e.g. allodynia and hyperalgesia) associated with neuropathic pain.
One specific goal is to unravel the neural circuitry in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord using a combination of electrophysiology, retrograde labeling, and calcium imaging. Given the intrinsic cellular properties and synaptic connectivity, the next goal is to characterize the flow of information through the circuit. Computer simulations will help determine precisely how changes in cellular and synaptic properties impact circuit function, leading to specific predictions that will be tested experimentally. Reversible inactivation of circuit components and pharmacological modulation will be tested in vivo in order to help translate physiological knowledge into clinically relevant understanding.
Recent Publications
- Prescott SA, Sejnowski TJ. Spike-rate coding and spike-time coding are affected oppositely by different adaptation mechanisms. J Neurosci, in press.
- Prescott SA, Ratté S, De Koninck Y, Sejnowski TJ. Pyramidal neurons switch from integrators in vitro to resonators under in vivo-like conditions. J Neurophysiol, in press.
- Prescott SA, De Koninck Y, Sejnowski TJ. Biophysical basis for three distinct dynamical mechanisms of action potential initiation. PLoS Comput Biol 4: e1000198, 2008.
- Ratté S, Prescott SA, Collinge J, Jefferys JGR. Mouse model of variant CJD exhibits prion strain-specific changes in NMDA receptor-dependent excitation causing bursts in the hippocampus. Neurobiol Dis 32: 96-104, 2008.
- Prescott SA, Sejnowski TJ, De Koninck Y. Reduction of anion reversal potential subverts the inhibitory control of firing rate in spinal lamina I neurons: towards a biophysical basis for neuropathic pain. Mol Pain 2: 32, 2006.
- Prescott SA, Ratté S, De Koninck Y, Sejnowski TJ. Nonlinear interaction between shunting and adaptation controls a switch between integration and coincidence detection in pyramidal neurons. J Neurosci 26: 9084-9097, 2006.
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