:: DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSCIENCE :: BROWN UNIVERSITY ::

Ph.D., Duke University
Professor and Chairman
Department of Neuroscience
474 Sidney Frank Hall of Life Sciences
Tel: (401) 863-2982
Email: Barry_Connors@Brown.edu
Go to lab web page

The neocortex is the largest and most unique part of the mammalian brain. It generates neural events that are essential for normal perception, motor control, memory and cognition. To help understand the mechanisms of the neocortex, my students and I study the basic physiology of its neurons, synapses and neurotransmitters, and the patterns of its connections. We recently discovered that inhibitory neurons in the cortex communicate via electrical synapses, and that electrically coupled networks of neurons can serve as pacemakers for cortical rhythms in the brain. We are also studying how neural activity leads to plasticity of cortical circuits, and how seizure discharges begin and propagate through the cortex. Our methods include intracellular and extracellular recording and patch clamping, neuroanatomical techniques, isolated slice preparations, and computer modeling.

Richardson KA, Fanselow EE, Connors BW. Neocortical anatomy and physiology. In: Epilepsy: A Comprehensive Textbook, 2nd Ed. J Engel, TA Pedley (eds.), Lippincott-Williams & Wilkins, 2007.

Landisman CE, Connors BW. VPM and PoM Nuclei of the Rat Somatosensory Thalamus: Intrinsic Neuronal Properties and Corticothalamic Feedback. Cereb Cortex. 17:2853-2865, 2007.

Connors BW, Cruikshank SJ. Bypassing interneurons: inhibition in neocortex. Nature Neurosci. 10:808-810, 2007.

Mancilla JG, Lewis TJ, Pinto DJ, Rinzel J, Connors BW. Synchronization of electrically coupled pairs of inhibitory interneurons in neocortex. J Neurosci, 27:2058–2073, 2007

Venkataramani S, Davitt KM, Zhang J, Xu H, Song YK, Connors BW, Nurmikko AV. Semiconductor ultra-violet light emitting diodes for flash photolysis. J Neurosci Methods, 160:5-9, 2007.

Cruikshank SJ, Lewis TJ, Connors BW. Synaptic basis for intense thalamocortical activation of feedforward inhibitory cells in neocortex. Nature Neurosci, 10: 462-468, 2007.

Bear MF, Connors BW, Paradiso MA. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, 3rd Ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 2007

Patrick SL, Connors BW, Landisman CE. Developmental changes in somatostatin-positive interneurons in a freeze-lesion model of epilepsy. Epilepsy Res, 70:161-71, 2006.

Cruikshank SJ, Landisman CE, Mancilla JG, Connors BW. Connexon connexions in the thalamocortical system. Progress Brain Research, 149: 41-57, 2005.

Gibson JR, Beierlein M, Connors BW. (2005) Functional properties of electrical synapses between inhibitory interneurons of neocortical layer 4. J Neurophysiol, 93: 467-480.

Pinto DJ, Patrick SL, Huang WC, Connors BW. Initiation, propagation, and termination of epileptiform activity in neocortex in vitro involve distinct mechanisms. J Neurosci, 25: 8131-8140, 2005.

Landisman CE, Connors BW. Modulation of electrical synapses in the mammalian thalamus. Science, 310:1809-1813, 2005.

Fanselow EE, Connors BW. Navigating a sensorimotor loop. Neuron, 45:329-330, 2005.

Song YK, Patterson WR, Bull CW, Beals J, Hwang NJ, Deangelis AP, Lay C, McKay JL, Nurmikko AV, Fellows MR, Simeral J, Donoghue JP, Connors BW. Development of a chipscale integrated microelectrode/microelectronic device for brain implantable neuroengineering applications. IEEE Trans Neural Systems Rehab Engin, 13: 220-226, 2005.

Long MA, Jutras MJ, Connors BW, Burwell RD. (2005) Electrical synapses coordinate activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Nat Neurosci. 8: 61-66.

Long MA, Cruikshank SJ, Jutras MJ, Connors BW. Abrupt maturation of a spike-synchronizing mechanism in neocortex. J Neuroscience, 25: 7309-7316, 2005.

Venkataramani S, Davitt KM, Zhang J, Xu H, Song YK, Connors BW, Nurmikko AV. Compact semiconductor light-emitting diodes for dynamical imaging of neuronal circuitry. IEEE J Select Topics Quantum Electron, 11: 785-790, 2005

Ozden I, Venkataramani S, Long MA, Connors BW, Nurmikko AV. (2004) Stong coupling of nonlinear electonic and biological oscillators: reaching the 'amplitude death' regime. Phys Rev Lett, 93: 158102-158104-4.

Connors BW, Long MA. (2004) Electrical synapses in the mammalian brain.
Annual Review of Neuroscience, 27: 393-418.

Cruikshank SJ, Hopperstad M, Younger M, Connors BW, Spray DC, Srinivas M. (2004) Potent block of Cx36 and Cx50 gap junction channels by mefloquine. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA, 101: 12364-12369.

Patterson WR, Song Y-K, Bull CW, Ozden I, Deangellis A, McKay JL, Nurmikko AV, Donoghue JD, Connors BW. A microelectrode/microelectronic hybrid device for brain implantable neuroprosthetic applications. IEEE Trans Biomed Engin, 10: 1845-1853, 2004.

Long MA, Landisman CE, Connors BW. (2004) Small clusters of electrically coupled neurons generate synchronous rhythms in the thalamic reticular nucleus. J Neurosci, 24: 341-347.

Beierlein M, Gibson JR, Connors BW. (2003) Two dynamically distinct inhibitory networks in layer 4 of the neocortex. J Neurophysiol, 90: 2987-3000.

Telfeian AE, Connors BW. Widely integrative properties of layer 5 pyramidal cells support a role for processing of extralaminar synaptic inputs in rat neocortex. Neurosci Lett, 343: 121124, 2003.

Landisman CE, Long MA, Beierlein M, Deans MR, Paul DL, Connors BW. (2002) Electrical synapses in the thalamic reticular nucleus. J Neurosci, 22: 1002-1009.

Long MA, Deans MR, Paul DL, Connors BW. (2002) Rhythmicity without synchrony in the electrically uncoupled inferior olive. J Neurosci, 22: 10898-10905.

Amitai Y, Gibson JR, Beierlein M, Patrick SL, Ho AM, Connors BW, Golomb D. The spatial dimensions of electrically coupled networks of interneurons in neocortex. J Neurosci, 22: 4142-4152, 2002.

Deans MR, Gibson JR, Sellitto C, Connors BW, Paul DL. Synchronous activity of inhibitory networks in neocortex requires electrical synapses containing connexin36. Neuron, 31: 477-485, 2001.

Beierlein M, Gibson JR, Connors BW. (2000) An electrically coupled network of interneurons drives synchronized inhibition in neocortex. Nature Neurosci, 3: 904-910.

Finnerty GT, Connors BW. Sensory deprivation without competition yeilds modes and alterations of short term synaptic dynamics. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 97: 12864 12868, 2000.

For more publications please visit the Connors Lab