Faculty Detail
Name
SCOTT J CRUIKSHANK
Campus Address
SHEL 1003 Zip 2182
Phone
(205) 996-6247
E-mail
sjc@uab.edu
Other websites
Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type
Department
Division
Rank
Primary
Neurobiology
Neurobiology
Assistant Professor
Center
Civitan International Research Center
Civitan International Research Center
Assistant Professor
Center
Comprehensive Neuroscience Center
Comprehensive Neuroscience Center
Assistant Professor
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Cruikshank received his Ph.D. and postdoctoral training from the University of California, Irvine. Before coming to UAB in 2019, he was a research track professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University.
Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Cortical Control of the Thalamus
Description
Dr. Cruikshank studies synaptic and sensory processing in neural circuits of the neocortex and thalamus. Clarifying how these structures bidirectionally control one another will be an important part of understanding mammalian information processing. His work involves neurophysiology in intact animals and in vitro, pharmacology, anatomy, behavior and optogenetics. He often combines whole-cell recordings from genetically-identified neurons with optical control. An overarching goal is to identify basic principles of cortical-thalamic processing, including interactions with brain state.
Keywords
Thalamus, Cortex, Neocortex, Reticular, Thalamocortical, Corticothalamic, Optogenetics, Neurophysiology, Circuitry