Courses:
Human
Anatomy (BIO 290), Functional Neuroscience for Occupational
Therapists (BIO 440/540), Clinical Anatomy for Occupational Therapists
(BIO 414/514), Human Histology (BIO 482/582), Advanced Human Anatomy
(BIO 410), Scientific Presentations (BIO 603)
Research Interests: Neurobiology
and Anatomy of the auditory system.
Hearing is one of our most important senses and
is
ultimately the
responsibility of the auditory system. Processing that occurs within
the central auditory system enables us to unconsciously sort out
meaningful sounds from background noise, to localize the source of
sounds, and to determine whether a sound is noteworthy of our
attention. These sophisticated auditory tasks that we perform routinely
depend upon specialized neural circuits that compute subtle differences
in the shape, timing, and intensity of stimuli as they independently
arrive at each ear.
The circuitry underlying such complex auditory
processing requires an
elaborate organization. An ordered arrangement of inputs to an auditory
center is essential since it not only preserves information that has
been processed downstream, but it also provides the foundation for a
neural network that is capable of integrating that information before
it is relayed on to the next level of the system. The focus of the
research in my laboratory is to understand the early development and
organization of converging pathways in the ascending auditory system,
as well as the developmental mechanisms that guide such circuit
formation. To address these fundamental questions, my lab uses
neuroanatomical techniques (namely fluorescent tract-tracing and
immunohistochemistry) in the developing rat to simultaneously label
separate pathways and neuronal populations (see images below).
Understanding the development and organization of the auditory system
is clinically important. To most effectively treat developmental
hearing disorders, it is essential to understand the normal development
of the system and the most appropriate time for intervention.
Selected
Publications:
Gabriele ML, Shahmoradian SH, French CC, Henkel
CK, and McHaffie JG. 2006. Early segregation of layered projections
from the lateral superior olivary nucleus to the central nucleus of the
inferior colliculus in the neonatal cat. In press.
Gabriele ML, Smoot JE, Jiang H, Stein BE, and
McHaffie JG. 2006. Early establishment of adult-like nigrotectal
architecture in the neonatal cat: A double labeling study using
carbocyanine dyes. Neuroscience 137(4):1309-1319.
Henkel CK, Gabriele ML, McHaffie JG.
2005. Quantitative assessment of developing afferent patterns in
the cat inferior colliculus revealed with calbindin
immunohistochemistry and tract tracing methods. Neuroscience
136(3):945-955.
McHaffie JG, Anstrom KK, Gabriele ML, and Stein
BE. 2001. Distribution of the calcium binding proteins calbindin D-28k
and parvalbumin in the superior colliculus of adult and newborn cat and
rhesus monkey. Exp Brain Res 141:460-470.
Gabriele ML, Brunso-Bechtold JK, and Henkel CK.
2000. Plasticity in the development of afferent patterns in the
inferior colliculus of the rat after unilateral cochlear ablation. J
Neuroscience 20(18):6939-6949.
Gabriele ML, Brunso-Bechtold JK, and Henkel CK.
2000. Development of afferent patterns in the inferior colliculus of
the rat: Projection from the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus. J
Comp Neurol 416:368-382.
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