Nelson Spruston, Ph.D.





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Nelson Spruston
		Dendritic integration in hippocampal pyramidal neurons In the hippocampus, sensory information is integrated to provide a contextual map of experience with a strong spatial component. In addition, the hippocampus is a crucial structure for the formation of new declarative memories (including spatial memory). In my laboratory, we study the cellular processes that allow hippocampal neurons to carry out these functions and to change their as a function as a consequence of experience. Research in my lab focuses on the excitable properties of CA1 dendrites and their role in synaptic integration. Dendritic excitability is likely to be a central factor in the process of synaptic integration, as well as in mediating activity-dependent plasticity that may be responsible for the function of the hippocampus during learning.
Professor PhD, Baylor College of Medicine
e-mail Dr. Spruston ph: 847.467.2734 fax: 847.491.5211
	Selected References: • Hardie J, Spruston N. (2009). Synaptic depolarization is more effective than back-propagating action potentials during induction of associative long-term potentiation in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 29(10):3233-41. • Moore SJ, Cooper DC, Spruston N. (2009). Plasticity of burst firing induced by synergistic activation of metabotropic glutamate and acetylcholine receptors. Neuron. 6(2): 287-300. • Spruston N, Johnston D. (2008). Out of control in the dendrites. Nat Neurosci. 11(7):733-4. • Rempe MJ, Spruston N, Kath WL, Chopp DL. (2008). Compartmental neural simulations with spatial adaptivity. J Comput Neurosci. May 6. • Spruston N. (2008). Neuroscience: strength in numbers. Nature. 452(7186):420-1. • Spruston N. (2008). Pyramidal neurons: dendritic structure and synaptic integration. Nat Rev Neurosci. 9(3):206-21. Review. • Jarsky T, Mady R, Kennedy B, Spruston N. (2008). Distribution of bursting neurons in the CA1 region and the subiculum of the rat hippocampus. J Comp Neurol. 506(4):535-47. • Katz Y, Kath WL, Spruston N, Hasselmo ME. (2007). Coincidence detection of place and temporal context in a network model of spiking hippocampal neurons. PLoS Comput Biol. 3(12):e234. • Remy S, Spruston N. (2007). Dendritic spikes induce single-burst long-term potentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104(43):17192-7. • Davie JT, Kole MH, Letzkus JJ, Rancz EA, Spruston N, Stuart GJ, Häusser M. (2006). Dendritic patch-clamp recording. Nat Protoc.1(3):1235-47. • Metz AE, Spruston N, Martina M. (2007). Dendritic D-type potassium currents inhibit the spike afterdepolarization in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. J Physiol. 581(Pt 1):175-87. • Kaczorowski CC, Disterhoft J, Spruston N. (2007). Stability and plasticity of intrinsic membrane properties in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons: effects of internal anions. J Physiol. 578(Pt 3):799-818. • Nicholson DA, Trana R, Katz Y, Kath WL, Spruston N, Geinisman Y. (2006). Distance-dependent differences in synapse number and AMPA receptor expression in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Neuron. 4;50(3):431-42. • Metz A, Jarsky T, Martina M, Spruston N. (2005) R-type calcium channels produce an afterdepolarization and bursting in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Journal of Neuroscience, 25:5763-5773. • Cooper DC, Chung S, Spruston N. (2005) Output-mode transitions controlled by prolonged inactivation of sodium channels in pyramidal neurons of subiculum. PLoS Biology, 3(6):1123-1129. • Golding N, Staff NP, Spruston N. (2002) Dendritic spikes as a mechanism for cooperative long-term potentiation. Nature, 418:326-331. • Golding NL, Spruston N. (2001) Dichotomy of action potential backpropagation in CA1 pyramidal neurons, Journal of Neurophysiology 86:2998-3010. • Jung H, Staff NP, Spruston N. (2001) Action potential bursting in subicularpyramidal neurons, Journal of Neuroscience 21:3312-3321. • Häusser M, Spruston N, Stuart G. (2000) Diversity and dynamics of dendritic signaling. Science, 290:739-744.		Other Links: • Spruston lab home page • Dendrites: Co-edited by Dr. Spruston