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Carlos Aizenman is a Professor of Neuroscience at Brown University with a focus on understanding the role of sensory experience in shaping connectivity and functional properties of developing neural circuits. His research began as an undergraduate at Brown, working on visual cortical synaptic plasticity under Mark Bear. He pursued his PhD at Johns Hopkins with David Linden, studying plasticity in deep-cerebellar nuclear neurons. His postdoctoral work in Holly Cline's lab combined interests in the visual system and the regulation of neural excitability, which continues to drive his current research in the Aizenman Lab. Aizenman's lab works primarily with the visual system of Xenopus laevis tadpoles to explore the impact of sensory inputs on neural circuit development, with implications for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. The lab utilizes various experimental approaches, including molecular biology, electrophysiology, live imaging, and computational modeling to investigate how sensory experiences influence neural organization and behavior. Aizenman's innovative use of the tadpole model allows for unique insights into the mechanisms of circuit function and adaptations during development, emphasizing the importance of multisensory integration in generating orienting behavior and addressing the complexities associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Brown University • Providence, RI
Teaching and conducting research in the field of Neuroscience.
Department: Department of Economics