Wyatt Potter

E-mail: wbpotter@wisc.edu

Research Project:

Changing strength of neuronal synapses, termed synaptic plasticity, is required for the formation of new memories.  A robust and enduring form of synaptic plasticity is long-term potentiation (LTP), whereby synaptic responses are increased.  We are studying how LTP in the hippocampus is regulated by glycolysis and metabolic state of neurons.  To this end, we combine electrophysiology with traditional biochemistry to characterize the cellular events underlying synaptic potentiation.  Metabolic regulation of LTP has possible therapeutic implications for the treatment of pharmacologically intractable epilepsy where dysregulated increases in synaptic potentiation are involved with seizures.

Abstracts and Publications:

• Potter, W., R.E. Kalil, and W.J. Kao.  2008. Biomimetic material systems for neural progenitor cell-based therapy.  Front Biosci. 13:806-21.