My laboratory studies the functional organization of the mammalian hypothalamus with particular emphasis on the circadian timing system.
Circadian rhythms are fundamental features of an organism's adaptation to their environment.
The circadian timing system is a set of related neural structures whose function is the temporal organization of physiological processes and behavior into an adaptive, circadian pattern. Techniques used in the laboratory include immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, tract tracing methods including the use of neurotrophic viruses to analyze multisynaptic pathways, electrophysiology, in situ hybridization, neural transplantation and behavioral analysis. Organization of the mammalian circadian system. The retinohypothalamic tract arises from a distinct set of retinal ganglion cells.