Research Expertise and Interest

neurobiology, RNA splicing, synaptic plasticity, psychedelic biology, electrophysiology, two-photon imaging, molecular genetics, molecular biology

Research Description

Genetic programs balance order and variability in the brain. This balancing act relies on molecular cues to sculpt the patterns of brain activity that underlie behavior. The deficit in our knowledge of these mechanisms prevent us from developing novel clinical solutions for neurological conditions. Andrea Gomez's lab uses a range of techniques to decode the instructive cues that organize neural networks, including electrophysiology, functional imaging, and molecular biology. They focus on mechanisms that specify synaptic properties and how these properties bias the timescales of neuronal computation. They are working to discover how synaptic dysfunction manifests in conditions like autism, intellectual disability, and neurodegeneration.