Home Department: Biology
Supported by: Bio-X
Mentor: Karl Deisseroth, Bioengineering and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Kathryn is investigating the cell-type identity of the connections between two brain areas: the substantia nigra pars compacta from the fundus of the striati. Previous tracing studies indicate a high degree of connectivity between these structures, suggesting the fundus of the striati may provide important inputs to dopamine systems, which influence many aspects of learning and habit formation. Her first goal will be determining if the fundus of the striati inputs express the neuropeptide neurotensin, aberrant expression of which has been correlated with autism.

Poster presented at the Stanford Bio-X Interdisciplinary Initiatives Symposium on August 26, 2015:

Rabies-Tracing Mediated Exploration of Inputs to the Substantia Nigra

Kathryn E. Evans¹, Talia N. Lerner^2,3, Karl Deisseroth^2,3,4,5
[Departments of Biology¹, Bioengineering², and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences⁴, Howard Hughes Medical Institute⁵, and CNC Program³, Stanford University]