Research

Area 4

Neurophysiology and functional studies of the nervous system.

Team leader

Strategic objectives

Expansion of scientific knowledge on functional aspects of the nervous system, with maximum integration of the basic and clinical aspects, fundamentally using neurophysiological techniques. From the clinical perspective, the principal objectives are the characterization of the neurophysiological aspects of motor control and perception, and the physiopathological aspects of neuromuscular diseases, sleep disturbances, epilepsy, and conditions characterized by neuropathic pain. In basic research, the principal objectives are the characterization of the cellular physiological mechanisms in both ocular physiology and in the context of neuronal hyper-excitability in neuropathic pain, and the in-depth study of the synaptic transmission modulatory mechanisms.

Main lines of research

  1. The participation of subcortical motor systems in the execution of movements, postural maintenance and reflex control. Study of the alarm circuits based on auditory or somatosensory stimuli. Prepulse phenomena.
  2. Physiology and physiopathology of neuropathic pain. Study of nociceptive evoked potentials. Reflex reactions of the autonomous nervous system in response to nociceptive stimulation. Conscious sensory perception.
  3. Study of sleep and its disturbances in different disorders. Numbness. Sleep multiple latency testing. Restless legs syndrome. Periodic leg movements during sleep.
  4. Epileptic phenomena and their treatment. Status epilepticus. Monitoring of epileptic seizures. Video-EEG and epidural recording. Epileptic crisis recordings with functional magnetic resonance imaging.
  5. The role of actin in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Characterization of the leak channels implicated in neuronal hyper-excitability and cell memory, in neurons of the dorsal root ganglia.
  6. Physiology of aqueous humor drainage and physiopathology of glaucoma. Ocular pathology in aging. Physiology of the cells of the ocular trabecular meshwork.

Grups

Neurophysiology (Associated)

GASULL, XAVIER

(FM_UB)

Within the field of neurophysiology, the group is interested in establishing the functions of different ion channels in the regulation of different cell processes. In particular, at neuron level, we are investigating different ion channels implicated in cellular excitability in sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglion, and their relationship with neuropathic pain. On the other hand, in trabecular cells that regulate aqueous humor flow in the eye, we are exploring the role of the cytoskeleton and of different ion channels in the functioning of these cells and their relationship with the physiopathology of glaucoma.