Jason MacLean

Assistant Professor

Department of Neurobiology

The University of Chicago
947 E. 58th St., MC0926
Chicago, IL 60637 

Email: jmaclean@bsd.uchicago.edu
Phone: (773) 834-7650
Office: SBRI J111 (MC 0926)

Research Summary

Optical probing and imaging of neuronal microcircuits.

Research Description

Neurons do not work in isolation but rather operate together, within local interconnected circuits. Our lab uses the latest technology in microscopy to allow us to examine the long standing questions of how information is encoded and stored in the neocortex, at the level of the functional neuronal circuit. Other techniques are limited to the examination of either large brain regions, missing the resolution needed to analyze the underlying mechanisms, or to single neurons, missing the activity of the circuit in which the neurons are embedded. Experiments at the circuit level are essential to answering these questions because studies in which single or even a few cells are monitored fundamentally miss the emergent properties of these circuits.

Select Publications

Watson BO, MacLean JN, Yuste R (2008) UP States Protect Ongoing Cortical Activity from Thalamic Inputs. PLoS ONE 3(12): e3971

Hoffman KL, Battaglia FP, Harris K, MacLean JN, Marshall L, Mehta MR. (2007) The upshot of up states in the neocortex: from slow oscillations to memory formation. J Neurosci., 27: 11838-41

MacLean, J. N., Fenstermaker, V., Watson, B. O., and Yuste, R. (2006) A Mouse Visual Thalamocortical Slice. Nature Methods. 3: 129-134

MacLean, J. N., Watson, B. O., Aaron, G. B., and Yuste, R. (2005) Internal dynamics determine the cortical response to thalamic stimulation. Neuron. 48: 811-823

Yuste R., MacLean, J.N., Smith, J. and Lanser, A. (2005). Perspective/Opinion: Can CPGs help us understand cortical function? Nature Rev Neurosci., 6: 477-83

MacLean, J.N., Zhang, Y., Johnson, B.J. and Harris-Warrick, R.M. (2003) Activity-Independent Homeostasis in Rhythmically Active Neurons. Neuron 37: 109-120.