Research Interests: Cellular/molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity underlying memory formation and cross-modal plasticity
Our daily experience can trigger lasting memories, which are stored in our brains. Memories are stored ultimately by changing the way neurons convey information. More precisely, they are stored as changes in the function of synapses: the structures by which neurons contact and transmit signals to each other. Dr. Hey-Kyoung Lee’s lab is interested in exploring the cellular and molecular changes that happen at synapses to allow memory storage.
Combining various techniques, such as electrophysiological recording, biochemical/molecular analysis, and imaging, we are aiming to understand the cellular and molecular changes that happen during synaptic plasticity. It is well established that neural activity can trigger synaptic changes, such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), which are cellular models of learning and memory. However, in addition to LTP and LTD, a more global mode of plasticity needs to be in place to provide stability to neural networks. Currently, we are examining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of global homeostatic synaptic plasticity using sensory cortices as model systems. In particular, we found that loss of vision elicits changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the primary visual cortex, which reflects heightened plasticity and conforms to the idea of recruitment by the spared sensory modalities. Interestingly, vision loss also triggers specific synaptic changes in other primary sensory cortices, which we postulate underlies sensory compensation in blind. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying such cross-modal synaptic plasticity is one of the main research foci of the lab.
In addition to understanding the basic mechanisms of how experience alters the brain, we are also interested in elucidating the events that occur during aging and in diseased brains. Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating memory disorder that affects the social well-being of affected individuals. In collaboration with Dr. Alfredo Kirkwood, we are analyzing mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, especially focusing on the possible alterations in synaptic plasticity mechanisms, and how normal aging alters synaptic functions.
