Intracellular Signaling from Action Potentials

Information about the environment is coded in the temporal pattern of action potential firing, yet little is known of how this information is decoded and integrated within the neuron to control gene expression and other adaptive neuronal responses. Using a combination of electrophysiology, Action Potential video and confocal calcium imaging, biochemical and molecular methods, our work has traced the stimulus transcription pathway from action potentials, through calcium fluxes to the protein kinases and transcription factors regulating transcription of genes involved in adaptive responses in neurons. This work determines the extent to which temporal dynamics, spatial heterogeneity, or concentrations of calcium and other intracell-ular signaling molecules can confer specificity between action potential firing frequency and the appropriate response.