Dr. Akiva S. Cohen is an Investigator at Cohen Laboratory within the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute. His research focuses on how traumatic brain injury alters hippocampal cortical circuitry and causes cognitive impairments. Dr. Cohen's team investigates the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie these cognitive deficits, particularly looking at alterations in neuronal excitability within the limbic system, which plays a crucial role in higher cognitive functions such as learning and memory. The laboratory employs various techniques, including contextual fear conditioning to assess cognitive impairments, extracellular field potential recording, unbiased stereology to quantify cell death, and single-cell recording techniques to examine synaptic transmission changes post-injury. Additionally, the lab utilizes biochemical methods, including high-pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry, to examine alterations in glial and neuronal metabolic pathways. This comprehensive approach aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind injury-induced cognitive deficits and direct the development of potential therapies for individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
Cohen Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA
Leads research on traumatic brain injury and its effects on cognitive function, employing various scientific techniques.