W. Rowland. Taylor, PhD

The goal of the Taylor lab is to understand how circuit structure and synaptic function combine to perform useful neural computations. To this end we employ the mammalian retina, which can be isolated intact, maintained for hours in vitro and stimulated naturally with images generated on a computer display. We also use immunohistochemical techniques to identify specific cell classes after recordings, and to localize and identify transmitter receptors and other proteins within target neural pathways. In collaboration with Prof Rob Smith at U Penn, we construct computation models of the neural circuits, and use these, in combination with physiological results, to test hypotheses regarding circuit function.