Revision as of 02:40, 13 September 2010

			Dr. Graham Leon Collingridge [Homepage] He is investigating the synaptic basis of learning and memory with an emphasis on the role of glutamate receptors in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). He has established the principle that NMDA receptors trigger plasticity and AMPA receptors mediate a modifiable synaptic response, and this principle has now been extended to many other synapses in the brain and is regarded as one of the most influential discoveries in the field of synaptic function. He also discovered that NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission is plastic; synaptic plasticity is expressed by changes in AMPA receptor function; both inhibitory and facilitatory autoreceptor mechanisms contribute to the acute and long-term regulation of synaptic transmission. He has multiple high impact publications including Collingridge et al(1983, J of Physiology, over 1,500 citations) and Bliss & Collingridge (1993, Nature, over 5,000 citations). Numerous prestigious awards including Elected Fellow, The Royal Society (2001); Elected President, British Neuroscience Association (2007). The Santiago Grisolia Prize (2008). have been given to him. Contact information - Office: Bldg#501, Rm# - E-mail: glcollingridge@gmail.com
			Course Aims and Scope To understand the basic functioning of glutamatergic synapses in the brain, with a special emphasis on the properties of glutamate receptors as well as to know the primary mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, especially long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD)
	Reading assignments & course slides		Week#01 - Course slides - Readings   Collingridge et al., 2009   Lodge, 2009