20Th ANNUAL NEUROSCIENCE at STORRS, 2016!

An event organized by the UCONN Interdisciplinary Neuroscience th Program Steering Committee 20 Annual

with the support of the Neuroscience UCONN OVPR Scholarship Facilitation Fund

and the contribution of the departments of at Storrs Biomedical Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Pharmaceutical Sciences Physiology and Neurobiology Psychological Sciences

and the contribution of the Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences

For info visit Laurel Hall http://neuroscience.uconn.edu Level 1 5:00 – 8:30 pm

Itinerary

5 – 6 pm: Keynote Lecture ...... 3 David Ginty, PhD Harvard Medical School / Howard Hughes Medical Institute “A Molecular-genetic Approach to Decoding the Sense of Touch”

6 – 8:30 pm: Poster Session and Reception ...... 4 During the poster session, Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers from across campus will present their work in poster format. Everybody is welcome to interact informally over food and drinks

7 – 8 pm: Data Blitz ...... 10 The Data Blitz is a fun way for trainees to present their research in a concise manner to a diverse audience by encapsulating their work in a 3-minute-long presentation and limited to only 3 PowerPoint slides. The bell will be rung at the end of the 3 minutes. There will be 2 minutes for Q & A. A prize will be given for best presentation thanks to World Precision Instruments, Inc.

WELCOME TO THE 20th ANNUAL NEUROSCIENCE AT STORRS, 2016!

This is a unique opportunity to bring together the diverse neuroscience research community from across several Schools and Departments at University of Connecticut and UConn Health Center. Neuroscience at Storrs provides a venue for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students to meet and share their research, as well as attend a guest lecture describing innovative research in the field. This year, we are fortunate to have Prof. David Ginty from Harvard Medical School as our keynote speaker. Participating departments include Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physiology and Neurobiology, and Psychological Sciences (Storrs campus) and Neuroscience (UConn Health Center). The event is also supported this year by the Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS). This year’s Steering Committee is comprised of Profs. Angel De Blas (Physiology and Neurobiology), Debra Kendall (Pharmaceutical Sciences), Heather Read and John Salamone (Psychological Sciences), and organizers are Drs. Bin Feng and Sabato Santaniello (Biomedical Engineering). Special thanks go to the University of Connecticut Office of the Vice President for Research, which supports this event through the UConn Scholarship Facilitation Fund, IBACS, and the participating Departments for making Neuroscience at Storrs 2016 possible. A special thanks to World Precision Instruments, Inc. for generously sponsoring the Data Blitz competition this year.

KEYNOTE LECTURE Laurel Hall 101, 5:00 pm David Ginty, PhD Professor, Harvard Medical School Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

“A Molecular-genetic Approach to

Decoding the Sense of Touch”

Abstract. The somatosensory system endows us with a remarkable capacity for object recognition, texture discrimination, sensory-motor feedback, and social exchange. Innocuous touch of the skin is detected by a large group of physiologically distinct low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) whose cell bodies are in dorsal root and cranial ganglia. We have generated a mouse LTMR molecular-genetic toolbox that enables interrogation of the physiology, morphology, function, and development of each LTMR subtype. Using these tools and anatomical, physiological, and behavioral techniques, we have defined developmental, morphological and functional properties of LTMRs. We also observed that LTMR subtypes whose peripheral projections innervate the same small region of skin exhibit central projections that terminate within narrow, three-dimensional columns of the spinal cord dorsal horn. These spinal cord LTMR columns represent units of functional organization that receive and process LTMR subtype activity ensembles emanating from the skin. We posit that spinal cord interneurons directly receive and process LTMR activities, whereas spinal cord projection neurons carry processed touch information from spinal cord LTMR columns to the brain. To test these ideas, we recently generated an array of spinal cord dorsal horn neuron subtype- specific molecular genetic tools that enable functional characterization of spinal cord dorsal horn neuronal populations. Mechanisms of development of spinal cord and brainstem LTMR circuits that underlie the perception of touch, and a locus of LTMR circuit dysfunction during development that underlies aberrant tactile sensitivity in mouse models of autism spectrum disorders, will be presented.

Biography. David Ginty received a degree in biology from Mount Saint Mary’s College in 1984 and a PhD in physiology from East Carolina University School of Medicine in 1989. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School from 1989 until 1994. In 1995, Ginty joined the Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and in 2013 he moved to the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. In 2014, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Ginty is currently an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard University. Dr. Ginty and colleagues discovered mechanisms of development, function, and organizational logic of the neural circuits that underlie the sense of touch.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS Laurel Hall, First Floor, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm In alphabetic order of PI/last author’s names * Abstract available at http://neuroscience.uconn.edu

1. Language, Events, and the Hippocampus: Types, Tokens, and Token-States Z. Ekves1,2, P. M. Paz-Alonso3, N. C. Hindy4, S. Solomon5, G. T. M. Altmann1,2 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences and 2Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language, 20009 Donostia, Spain; 4Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544; 5Dept. of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

2. * Studying the Physiological Role of Connexin Proteins in Developing Human Neurons – Silencing of the Connexin Genes by Antisense Oligonucleotides A. M. Moskalik1,2,3, M. B. Singh1,2,3, P. V. Limaye1,2,3, J. A. White1,2,3, N. Zecevic1,2,3, S. D. Antic1,2,3 1Stem Cell Institute, 2Institute for Systems Genomics, and 3Dept. of Neuroscience, UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030

3. * Mechanisms of Spontaneous Electrical Activity in the Developing Cerebral Cortex Subplate Zone M. B. Singh1,2 and S. D. Antic1,2,3 1Stem Cell Institute, 2Institute for Systems Genomics and 3Dept. of Neuroscience, UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030

4. Fear within Virtual Reality Environments E. Errante1, S. Assudani1, A. Racki1, F. Kuhney1, A. Mehndiratta1, M. Padua1, S. Maren2, R. S. Astur1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 2Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843

5. * Nicotine Enhances Responding for Chocolate Rewards A. Palmisano1, E. Hudd1, C. McQuade1, H. de Wit2, R. S. Astur1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 2Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637

6. Estrogen Effects on Hippocampal Memory in Women S. Assudani Patel1, E. Errante1, R. Niezrecki1, L. Masayda1, S. Friedland1, F. Kuhney1, A. Mehndiratta1, A. Racki1, K. M. Frick2, P. Newhouse3, R. S. Astur1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 2Dept. of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211; 3Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37212

7. * Transcriptional Profiling of Naïve and Inflamed GFAP+ Satellite Glial Cells in the Mouse Dorsal Root Ganglion B. E. Knight1, S. T. Yeung2, E. E. Young2,3,4,5, K. M. Baumbauer1,2,4,5 1Dept. of Neuroscience, 2Dept. of Immunology, 3Dept. of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and 4Institute for Systems Genomics, UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030; 5School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

8. * Decreased Global DNA Methylation Differentiates a Chronic Pain Trajectory in Patients at the Onset of Low Back Pain M. Perry1, J. Yasko2, B. Knight2, D. Ramesh1, A. Starkweather1, K. M. Baumbauer1,2,3,4, E. E. Young1,3,4,5 1School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 2Dept. of Neuroscience, 3Dept. of Immunology, 4Institute for Systems Genomics, and 5Dept. of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030

9. * Alterations in Afferent Pathway Signaling and Neurogenic Inflammation Following Spinal Cord Injury J. R. Yasko1, E. E. Young2,3,4,5, K. M. Baumbauer1,2,4,5 1Dept. of Neuroscience, 2Dept. of Immunology, 3Dept. of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and 4Institute for Systems Genomics, UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030; 5School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

10. Pathogenesis of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis is Modulated by Glutamatergic Signaling and Inflammatory Cytokines in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex R. Rotolo1, J. K. Demuro1, G. Drummond1, J. Wood2, C. Little2, L. Teliska2, T. Strange2, J. Vidal2, L. Fruehauf2, A. Barber2, A. Wolf2, J. Blake3, L. Johns4, A. J. Betz2 1Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2Dept. of Psychology, 3Dept. of Computer Science, and 4Dept. of Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT 06518

11. * Modeling Memory Encoding via a Convolutional Neural Network A. Palmer1, C.-M. Chen2, J. Johannesen3,4, J. Kenney3, J. Bi1

1Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering and 2Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Dept. of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT 06517; 4Psychology Service, VACHS, West Haven, CT 06516

12. * Directed Evolution of a High Affinity and Specificity Antibody Targeting Phosphorylated Tau D. Li1 and Y. K. Cho2 1Dept. of Biomedical Engineering and 2Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

13. A Better Future in Mind: CB2SH3(-) Overexpression Recruits Gephyrin to the GABAergic Postsynapse J. Bear Jr.1, S. George1, C. D. Fekete1, C. Miralles1, A. L. de Blas1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

14. In Vivo Transgenic Expression of Collybistin Enhances Gephyrin Clustering and the Strength of GABAergic Synapses in Neurons of the Rat Cerebral Cortex C. D. Fekete1, R. U. Goz1, S. Dinallo1, C. P. Miralles1, T.-T. Chiou1, J. Bear Jr.1, C. G. Fiondella1, J. J. LoTurco1, A. L. de Blas1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

15. Transgenic Manipulation of GABAergic Synaptic Inhibition in Selected Neuron-Types of the Hippocampus S. George1, C. P. Miralles1, L. E. Mickelsen1, A. L. de Blas1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

16. * In Vitro Multichannel Single-Unit Recordings of Action Potentials from Mouse Sciatic Nerve L. Chen1, A. Abbiati1, T. J. Gallerani1, C. S. Kneeshaw1, C. Gonzales1, B. Feng1 1Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

17. Behavioral and Neuroanatomical Evaluation of the TS2-Neo Mouse Model of Timothy Syndrome, a Rare Genetic Disorder Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders A. R. Rendall1, A. L. Ford1, P. A. Perrino1, R. H. Fitch1,2 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences and 2Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

18. Evaluation of Visual Motion Perception Ability in Mice with Knockout of the Dyslexia Candidate Susceptibility Gene Dcdc2 P. A. Perrino1,2, A. R. Rendall1,2, J. J. LoTurco3, R. H. Fitch1,2 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, 2Institute for Systems Genomics, and 3Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, CT 06269

19. * Effects of Caffeine and Hypothermia on Neuropathology in P6 Rats with Experimentally Induced Hypoxic Ischemic Brain Injury M. Potter1, A. L. Smith1, H. M. Contreras-Mora1, T. S. Rosenkrantz1, R. H. Fitch1,2 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, 2Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

20. * Electrophysiological Phenotype and Optogenetic Silencing of Histaminergic Neurons of the Hypothalamic Tuberomammillary Nucleus in a Transgenic Mouse Line A. Fujita1,2, P. Bonnavion3, M. H. Wilson1, L. E. Mickelsen1, L. De Lecea4, A. C. Jackson1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology and 2Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institute, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; 4Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305

21. * The Neurochemical Phenotype of Lateral Hypothalamic Hypocretin/Orexin and Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Neurons Identified Through Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling L. E. Mickelsen1, F. W. Kolling IV1,2, B. Chimileski1,2, C. Norris2, C. E. Nelson2, A. C. Jackson1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology and 2Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

22. Biochemical Analysis of Novel Cannabinoid Receptor 2-Specific Agonists C. E. Scott1, Y.-H. Liao1, A. Hine1, D. A. Kendall1 1Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

23. A Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Approach to Auditory Scene Analysis J.-C. Kim1 and E. W. Large1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

24. * The Oncogenic Mutation B-RAF V600E Transforms the Physiology of Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons R. U. Goz1 and J. J. LoTurco1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

25. * Inactivation of Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Dorsal, or Ventral Hippocampus During a Temporal Sequence Task in a Radial Arm Water Maze S. L. Lee1, J. R. Pflomm1, M. Kumar1, E. J. Markus1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

26. Observational Learning in Rats Using a Water Maze R. Troha1, D. Dong1, K. Mathew1, A. Agrawal1, N. Hernandez1, E. J. Markus1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

27. Influence of the social environment on the behavior of rat pairs exploring a novel open field S. Ahmed1, L. Horbal1, M. Demelo1, S. L. Lee1, E. Markus1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

28. Bicarbonate-Dependent Inhibition of Chemosensitive Neurons of the Retrotrapezoid Nucleus C. M. Gonçalves1, F.-S. Kuo1, E. Daniel1, D. K. Mulkey1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

29. In Vitro Characterization of Noradrenergic Modulation of Chemosensitive Neurons in Retrotrapezoid Nucleus F.-S. Kuo1, B. F. Barna2, D. Chen1, A. C. Takakura3, T. S. Moreira2, D. K. Mulkey1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 2Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics and 3Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508, Brazil

30. Reprogramming of NG2 Cells into Neurons by Transcription Factor Dlx2 L. Boshans1, K. Patel1, D. Factor2, P. Tesar2, A. Nishiyama1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 2Dept. of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106

31. * Differential Proliferative Response of White and Gray Matter NG2 Cells to PDGF-AA is Partly Regulated by Microglia Neuropilin-1 M. A. Sherafat1, W. Wood1, E. Abbasi1, A. Nishiyama1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

32. Optogenetic Control of Auditory Discrimination in Rat SRAF E. Eddy1, M. Jacobs1,2, M. A. Escabì2,3, H. L. Read1,2

1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, 2Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, and 3Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

33. * Spike-Timing Neural Discrimination of Sound Envelope Shape in Primary and non-Primary Auditory Cortices A. F. Osman1,2, M. A Escabì1,2, H. L. Read1,3 1Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, 2Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and 3Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

34. Neural underpinnings of grammatical processing for less proficient L2 learners K. Kress1,2, Y. Prystauka1,2, E. Rossi3 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences and 2Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Dept. of Psychology and Sociology, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768

35. Oscillatory dynamics of morpho-syntactic processing in native and L2 speakers Y. Prystauka1,2 and E. Rossi3 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences and 2Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Dept. of Psychology and Sociology, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768

36. Acoustic Features Contributing to 1/F Temporal Modulation Spectra of Vocalization Sequences and Speech S. F. Khatami1,2, M. Wöhr3, H. L. Read1,2, M. A Escabì1,2,4 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, 2Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, and 4Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Dept. of Experimental and Physiological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany

37. Behavioral Economics and Dopamine Function: the VMAT-2 Inhibitor Tetrabenazine Alters Elasticity of Demand for Food Reinforcement, Increasing Sensitivity to Effort-Related Response Costs J.-H. Yang1, S. E. Yohn1, M. Sommerville1, M. Correa1,2, J. Salamone1 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269; 2Dept. of Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain

38. * State-Feedback Regulation of Deep Brain Stimulation in a Computational Model of Parkinson’s Disease S. L. Sumsky1 and S. Santaniello1,2 1Dept. of Biomedical Engineering and 2Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

DATA BLITZ Laurel Hall 101, 7:00 pm An Event Sponsored by World Precision Instruments, Inc.

1. L. E. Mickelsen1, F.W. Kolling IV1,2, B. Chimileski1,2, C. Norris2, C. E. Nelson2, and A.C. Jackson1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, and 2Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 The Neurochemical phenotype of Lateral Hypothalamic Hypocretin/ Orexin and Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Neurons Identified Through Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling

2. A. Fujita1,2, P. Bonnavion3, M. H. Wilson1, L. E. Mickelsen1, L. De Lecea4, and A. C. Jackson1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology and 2Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institute, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; 4Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 Electrophysiological Phenotype and Optogenetic Silencing of Histaminergic Neurons of the Hypothalamic Tuberomammillary Nucleus in a Transgenic Mouse Line

3. K. Todd1, E. Norton1, T. Brighton1, A. Trausch1, S. Schick1, S. Resnick2, W. Elkins2, J. Troncoso3, O. Pletnikova3, and J. Conover1,4 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology and 4Center for Regenerative Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 2National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; 3Dept. of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287 Ventriculomegaly and Accompanying Gliosis Associated with Impaired Fluid Dynamics in the Aging Brain

4. A. Coletti1, E. Norton1, B. Babbitt1, D. Singh1, and J. Conover1 1Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 Spatiotemporal Characterization of Ependymogenesis during Brain Development

5. A. L. Ford1, A. R. Rendall1, P. A. Perrino1, and R. H. Fitch1,2 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences and 2Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 Behavioral and Neuroanatomical Evaluation of the TS2-Neo Mouse Model of Timothy Syndrome, a Rare Genetic Disorder Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders

6. S. F. Khatami1,2, M. Wöhr3, H. L. Read1,2, and M. A Escabì1,2,4 1Dept. of Psychological Sciences, 2Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, and 4Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; 3Dept. of Experimental and Physiological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany Acoustic Features Contributing to 1/F Temporal Modulation Spectra of Vocalization Sequences and Speech

7. A. F. Osman1,2, M. A Escabì1,2, and H. L. Read1,3 1Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, 2Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and 3Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 Spike-Timing Neural Discrimination of Sound Envelope Shape in Primary and non-Primary Auditory Cortices

NOTES