Interactive visualization of prefrontal output. How do prefrontal networks translate their computations into cognitive and behavioral shifts? Shown here are the locations of axons from layer V prefrontal neurons sending direct signals to the medio-dorsal thalamus — this pathway is critical for flexibly shifting one’s decision-making strategy when a previous strategy is no longer working. (Zoom through for a closer look, click [NEXT] to view prefrontal inputs)
About
I’m a research neurobiologist focused on the physiological substrates of executive functioning within higher-order association areas of the brain. I use a range of tools, including optogenetics, chemogenetics, extra-cellular electrophysiology, 2-photon and light field imaging, calcium and voltage indicators, pharmacology, custom robotics, and advanced statistics to investigate how the coordinated activity of biological neural networks processes information. I am an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Before that, I did postdoctoral research in Conor Liston’s lab at Weill Cornell Medicine, and I completed my Ph.D. with Joshua Gordon at Columbia University.
tspellman@uchc.edu
