Home: Department of Physiology: Feinberg School of Medicine: Northwestern University

Innovative, collaborative research.

The Department of Physiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is devoted to outstanding research and committed to excellence in education. Our faculty participate in teaching medical and graduate students and are proud of their contribution to this important enterprise.

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What We Do

Research

Our research spans the full spectrum of investigation into neural function and dysfunction, bridging the levels of genes, molecules, dendrites, axons, cell types, circuits, systems and behavior.

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Education

In addition to directing their own independent research programs, our faculty are responsible for supervising the research training of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.

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Recent Publications

Unexpected complexity of everyday manual behaviors.

Yan Y, Goodman JM, Moore DD, Solla SA, Bensmaia SJ.

Nat Commun. 2020 Jul 16;11(1):3564. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17404-0.

Differences in Estimated Persistent Inward Currents Between Ankle Flexors and Extensors in Humans.

Kim EH, Wilson JM, Thompson CK, Heckman CJ.

J Neurophysiol. 2020 Jul 15. doi: 10.1152/jn.00746.2019. Online ahead of print.

From unstable input to robust output.

Wimalasena LN, Miller LE, Pandarinath C.

Nat Biomed Eng. 2020 Jul;4(7):665-667. doi: 10.1038/s41551-020-0587-9.

Motor Unit Discharge Variability Is Increased in Mild-To-Moderate Parkinson's Disease.

Wilson JM, Thompson CK, McPherson LM, Zadikoff C, Heckman CJ, MacKinnon CD.

Front Neurol. 2020 May 29;11:477. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00477. eCollection 2020.

The Electrophysiological Determinants of Corticospinal Motor Neuron Vulnerability in ALS.

Jara JH, Sheets PL, Nigro MJ, Perić M, Brooks C, Heller DB, Martina M, Andjus PR, Ozdinler PH.

Front Mol Neurosci. 2020 May 19;13:73. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00073. eCollection 2020.

Excessive Homeostatic Gain in Spinal Motoneurons in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Kuo SW, Binder MD, Heckman CJ.

Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 3;10(1):9049. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65685-8.

Physiological involvement of presynaptic L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels in GABA release of cerebellar molecular layer interneurons.

Rey S, Maton G, Satake S, Llano I, Kang S, Surmeier DJ, Silverman RB, Collin T.

J Neurochem. 2020 Jun 3. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15100. Online ahead of print.

Rapid 3D Enhanced Resolution Microscopy Reveals Diversity in Dendritic Spinule Dynamics, Regulation, and Function.

Zaccard CR, Shapiro L, Martin-de-Saavedra MD, Pratt C, Myczek K, Song A, Forrest MP, Penzes P.

Neuron. 2020 May 23:S0896-6273(20)30317-2. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.04.025. Online ahead of print.

TGF-β-Induced Phosphorylation of Usp9X Stabilizes Ankyrin-G and Regulates Dendritic Spine Development and Maintenance.

Yoon S, Parnell E, Penzes P.

Cell Rep. 2020 May 26;31(8):107685. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107685.

Linear and Non-linear Dimensionality-Reduction Techniques on Full Hand Kinematics.

Portnova-Fahreeva AA, Rizzoglio F, Nisky I, Casadio M, Mussa-Ivaldi FA, Rombokas E.

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 May 5;8:429. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00429. eCollection 2020.

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Basic Science Administration

Our department is supported by the Basic Science Administration group. The team provides assistance related to research and financial administration, professional affairs, facilities and communications.

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Housestaff Research Portal

We offer a wide range of resources, mentorship opportunities and training to help our residents and fellows excel as physician-scientists. Explore all of the resources and hear from housestaff who are making research a major part of their career development plans.

VISIT THE HOUSESTAFF RESEARCH PORTAL