Dr. Joshua Kaplan

Biography

Joshua Kaplan is a Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, specializing in understanding the signals in the brain that lead to specific patterns of behavior. His research employs a combination of behavioral, genetic, biochemical, imaging, and electrophysiological techniques to study brain signaling in the model organism C. elegans. Current research projects include investigating the cellular circuit defects caused by mutations linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). His data indicates that mutations in 500 genes increase the risk of ASD, raising significant questions regarding how these mutations impact circuit development and function. Kaplan's findings include alterations in the strength of inhibitory synapses and the capacity of target cells to adjust to incoming signals, as well as changes in gene expression triggered by electrical activity. Additionally, his work explores neuropeptide regulation in sleep-like states during the larval molts of C. elegans, aiming to identify the circuit mechanisms behind the transition from quiescence to arousal.

Research Interests