Dr. Brenda Bloodgood

Biography

Brenda Bloodgood is an Associate Professor in the Department of Research at the University of California, San Diego. Her lab focuses on understanding how neuronal computations change in response to an animal's interactions with its environment. The research aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which experience and activity-dependent gene expression influence neural connectivity and behavior, particularly in mouse models of hippocampal function. Key questions addressed include how components of inhibitory microcircuitry adjust in strength amidst activity-dependent changes, and the cellular and molecular processes that underpin alterations in connectivity. Bloodgood's approaches are multidisciplinary, utilizing techniques such as gene expression manipulation, optogenetics, viral circuit tracing, and two-photon uncaging to probe synaptic connectivity and neuronal signaling pathways. Her work seeks to contribute significantly to the fields of neuroscience and behavior by providing insights into the integration of excitatory and inhibitory processes in neural circuits.

Research Interests