Highlighting the Postdoctoral Achiever: Allison Murphy, PhD Degree Holder
Allison Murphy, a postdoctoral associate, is delving into exciting areas of vision neuroscience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Her research focuses on the structure and function of a feedback connection between the primary visual cortex (V1) and the visual part of the thalamus (LGN).
Murphy's interest in visual neuroscience was kindled during her undergraduate studies at Denison University, where she majored in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience. She chose the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry for her graduate studies due to its reputation in vision science, and her research is conducted under the supervision of Farran Briggs, PhD.
Murphy's research aims to shed light on the role of the information loop between V1 and LGN in our vision. The feedback connection from V1 to LGN is an important pathway that is thought to modulate and refine visual information processing by regulating LGN neuron responses according to higher-order cortical computations. This feedback is believed to contribute to processes such as attention, gain control, and context-dependent visual perception.
Research in this area often aims to clarify how V1 feedback affects LGN receptive field properties, temporal dynamics, and visual signal integration, thus shedding light on the functional role of this corticothalamic loop in vision. Future research opportunities could involve advanced imaging techniques, optogenetic manipulations in animal models, and computational modeling to explore how feedback modulates LGN activity in different behavioral states or visual tasks.
While specific details on Murphy’s work on V1-LGN feedback and its roles were not found in the current search results, it is important to note that the field of vision neuroscience is vast and continually evolving. To obtain detailed and specific information about Murphy’s contributions, one can consult scientific databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, or BioRxiv for her latest publications, as well as institutional pages or academic profiles if she is an active researcher in visual neuroscience.
Recently, Murphy's research was featured in the NeURoscience Newsletter Volume 18, highlighting the importance and intrigue of her work in the field of vision neuroscience. Murphy plans to continue her studies in the field long term, contributing to our understanding of how various brain areas work together to facilitate vision.
Science in the field of vision neuroscience is vital for understanding medical-conditions and improving health-and-wellness. Allison Murphy's research, focusing on the V1-LGN feedback loop, sheds light on the role of this connection in attention, gain control, and context-dependent visual perception, contributing to future advancements in health and wellness.
