Biosketch                 Top

As an undergraduate, Dr. Gibson studied biophysics at the University of California at Berkeley. He became interested in neurobiology while working as a technician in a psychophysics lab ran by Dr. Gerald Westheimer. Under the guidance of Dr. John Maunsell, he completed his Ph.D. in 1995 at the University of Rochester, which focused on neocortical activity related to visual processing. Next, he worked under Dr. Barry Connors studying the electrophysiological properties of inhibitory interneurons in somatosensory cortex. Dr. Gibson joined the Center for Basic Neuroscience at UT Southwestern in 2001.

 Research             Top

He is interested in the neuronal circuitry of sensory neocortex. The overall goal is to understand how neuronal activity modifies and maintains neuronal circuitry, and how this process is abnormal in some pathological conditions, such as in Mental Retardation and Autism. Currently, the focus is on a particular class of neocortical neuron - the inhibitory interneuron. There are different subtypes of inhibitory neurons, and one aim is to try to understand how each is modified by neuronal activity by studying their anatomical and electrophysiological properties. Mice are used to answer these questions because of the many experimental techniques available and because of their similarity to the human brain.

 Recent Publications             Top

Primary Research Articles

Gibson, J. R., Huber, K. M., and Südhof, T. C.  2009.  Neuroligin-2 deletion selectively decreases inhibitory synaptic transmission originating from fast-spiking, but not from somatostatin-positive neurons.  J. Neurosci., submitted.

Gibson, J. R., Bartley, A. F., Hays, S, and Huber, K. M.  2008.  An imbalance of neocortical excitation and inhibition and altered UP states reflect network hyperexcitability in the mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome.  J. Neurophysiol., 100(5): 2615-2626.

Bartley, A. F., Z. J. Huang, Huber, K. M., and Gibson, J. R.  2008.  Differential activity-dependent, homeostatic plasticity of two neocortical inhibitory circuits.  J. Neurophysiol., 100(4): 1983-1994.

Volk L.J., Pfeiffer B.E., Gibson J.R., Huber K.M.  2007.    Multiple Gq-coupled receptors converge on a common protein synthesis-dependent long-term depression that is affected in fragile X syndrome mental retardation.  J Neurosci., 27(43):11624-34.

Chubykin, A.A., Atasoy, D., Etherton, M.R., Brose, N., Kavalali, E.T., Gibson, J.R., Sudhof, T.C.  2007. Activity-Dependent Validation of Excitatory versus Inhibitory Synapses by Neuroligin-1 versus Neuroligin-2.  Neuron, 54(6): 919-932.

Gibson, J. R., Bartley, A. F., and Huber, K. M.  2006.  A role for the subthreshold currents I_Leak and I_H in the homeostatic control of excitability in neocortical somatostatin-positive inhibitory neurons.  J. Neurophysiol., 96(1): 420-432.

Gibson, J. R., Beierlein, M., and Connors, B. W.  2005.  Functional Properties of Electrical Synapses Between Inhibitory Neurons of Neocortical Layer 4.  J. Neurophysiol., 93(1): 467-480.

Beierlein, M.*, Gibson, J. R.*, and Connors, B. W. 2003. Two dynamically distinct inhibitory networks in layer 4 of neocortex. J. Neurophysiol., 90(5): 2987-3000.  * denotes co-author

Amitai Y., Gibson, J. R., Beierlein, M., Patrick, S.I., Ho, A.M., Connors, B. W., and Golomb, D.  2002. The spatial dimensions of electrically coupled networks of interneurons in neocortex.  J. Neurosci., 22: 4142-4152.

Deans, M.*, Gibson, J. R.*, Connors, B. W., and Paul, D. L. 2001. Synchronous activity of inhibitory networks in neocortex requires electrical synapses containing connexin36. Neuron, 31: 477-485. * denotes co-author

Beierlein, M.*, Gibson, J. R.*, and Connors, B. W. 2000. An electrically coupled network of interneurons drives synchronized inhibition in neocortex. Nature Neuroscience, .3(9): 904-910.  * denotes co-author

Gibson, J. R., Beierlein, M., Connors, B. W. 1999. Two electrically coupled inhibitory networks. Nature 402(4): 75-79.
  

INVITED REVIEWS

Connors, B. W., Gil Z., Landisman, C. E., Gibson, J. R., Amitai Y.  The pathway-specific regulation of synapses in the thalamocortical system.  In: Advances in Synaptic Plasticity, M. Baudry, J. L. Davis, and R. F. Thompson, Ed., MIT Press: Cambridge, MA.  2000.  pp 197-219.

 Current Lab Staff                   Top

Rooms NB4.202
Telephone: 214-648-5131

Students

Former Students