Dr Michael Ashby

Research summary

My research addresses the development of brain circuitry early in life, when anatomical and synaptic plasticity coordinate dramatically to produce functional circuits in the mammalian cortex. Using high resolution optical stimulation and recording combined with molecular, genetic and electrophysiological methods, I aim to define how neonatal sensory experience influences the normal and pathological cortical circuit development that underlies lifelong brain function.

This is an example of the type of connectivity map generated using 2-photon stimulation and patch clamp electrophysiology to detect and measure synaptic connections. Each sphere represents a neuron inside the barrel structure that is found in the sensory ...

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Selected publications

• Ashby, M & Isaac, J 2011, ‘Maturation of a recurrent excitatory neocortical circuit by experience-dependent unsilencing of newly-formed dendritic spines’. Neuron, vol 70., pp. 510 - 521
• Ashby, M, Daw, M & Isaac, J 2008, ‘AMPA Receptors’. in: RW Gereau, GT Swanson (eds) The Glutamate Receptors. Humana Press Inc., pp. 1 - 44

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Recent publications

• González-González, I, Jaskolski, F, Goldberg, Y, Ashby, M & Henley, J 2012, ‘Chapter six - Measuring membrane protein dynamics in neurons using fluorescence recovery after photobleach’. Methods in Enzymology, vol 504., pp. 127 - 146
• Matta, J, Ashby, M, Sanz-Clemente, A, Roche, K & Isaac, J 2011, ‘mGluR5 and NMDA receptors drive the experience- and activity-dependent NMDA receptor NR2B to NR2A subunit switch’. Neuron, vol 70., pp. 339 - 351

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View complete publications list in the University of Bristol publications system