The Malinow Lab is part of the Neurobiology Group at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. We are investigating the biological basis of learning and memory by studying the physiology of synapses in rodent brain slices. We manipulate synaptic transmission by expressing recombinant proteins through virally mediated transfection or biolistic techniques. We monitor transmission with electrophysiological and optical imaging techniques.

Synaptic model proposed to explain long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP), a possible cellular substrate of learning and memory. In this model, excitatory synapses have either AMPA receptors (AMPA-R) and NMDA receptors (NMDA-R), or only NMDA receptors. LTP causes postsynaptic activation of protein kinases (PK) and the delivery of AMPA receptors to both types of synapses.

Please send academic inquiries directly to Roberto Malinow