Dr. Szűcs Attila, PhD
Position
senior research fellow
Contact
Room: 6-308
Phone: /8373
E-mail: attila.szucs@ttk.elte.hu
Teaching activity (in English)
Biologist MSc
- Methods in Neurophysioogy Pr
- Electrophysiology L, Pr
Research Interest
Differential effects of voltage-dependent membrane currents on neuronal excitability and synaptic signal processing. In this research topic, we investigate the effects of several voltage-activated ionic currents on intrinsic cell properties in model simulations and patch clamp experiments. We reveal surprising, sometimes even paradoxical, regulatory effects of these ion currents in stimulating hippocampal neurons and describe the role of ion currents in the tuning of neuronal network oscillations.
Activity-dependent plasticity in biophysical and physiological properties of developing neurons. In this research, we investigate the effects of deprivation or other manipulation of electrical activity in primary hippocampal neuronal cultures and organotopic slice cultures. Our research focuses on the homeostatic regulation of neural networks, and we have characterized the role of nonspecific cationic currents and T-type Ca currents in these processes.
Electrophysiological analysis and manipulation of human neurons obtained by genetic reprogramming using optogenetic methods. The study of neurons derived from human somatic cells by genetic reprogramming represents an extremely important research direction in contemporary brain research. Our novel method is to control these developing neuron populations by time-structured, long-term optogenetic stimulation and to analyse in detail the physiological, neurochemical and biophysical properties of the "trained" neurons.
Development and application of hybrid technologies in biological neuron networks. One of the strengths of our research group is the ability to apply the dynamic clamp method at the mega-scale. Using this method, we can generate computer-simulated voltage-dependent and/or synaptic conductances in biological neurons to study their effects on the dynamic function and signal processing capacity of the cells.
Activity-dependent plasticity in biophysical and physiological properties of developing neurons. In this research, we investigate the effects of deprivation or other manipulation of electrical activity in primary hippocampal neuronal cultures and organotopic slice cultures. Our research focuses on the homeostatic regulation of neural networks, and we have characterized the role of nonspecific cationic currents and T-type Ca currents in these processes.
Electrophysiological analysis and manipulation of human neurons obtained by genetic reprogramming using optogenetic methods. The study of neurons derived from human somatic cells by genetic reprogramming represents an extremely important research direction in contemporary brain research. Our novel method is to control these developing neuron populations by time-structured, long-term optogenetic stimulation and to analyse in detail the physiological, neurochemical and biophysical properties of the "trained" neurons.
Development and application of hybrid technologies in biological neuron networks. One of the strengths of our research group is the ability to apply the dynamic clamp method at the mega-scale. Using this method, we can generate computer-simulated voltage-dependent and/or synaptic conductances in biological neurons to study their effects on the dynamic function and signal processing capacity of the cells.