In this episode, coauthors Anupam Bisht and Cecilia Badenhorst discuss their study, “Deep brain stimulation of A13 region evokes robust locomotory response in rats.” Their research demonstrates that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the A13 region in rats robustly increases locomotor activity without inducing anxiety using a novel wireless stimulation approach, suggesting that A13 may be a promising therapeutic target for gait dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease.

Deep brain stimulation of A13 region evokes robust locomotory response in rats

Anupam Bisht, Cecilia Badenhorst, Zelma H. T. Kiss, Kartikeya Murari, and Patrick J. Whelan

Journal of Neurophysiology 2025 133:5, 1594-1606

In this episode, coauthors Stephanie Gaudreau and Tuan Bui discuss their recently published research, “Pharmacological modulation of the M-current shapes locomotor function in developing zebrafish.” For the first time, they show that the M-current influences escape responses and swimming in larval zebrafish, with experiments in isolated spinal preparations revealing its presence in spinal circuits.

Journal of Neurophysiology 2025 133:6, 1795-1806

In our latest episode, Journal of Neurophysiology Editor-in-Chief Dr. Nino Ramirez discusses the life and scientific legacy of Dr. Joseph Erlanger with Dr. Erlanger’s granddaughter, Dorothy Erlanger. While the world knows Dr. Joseph Erlanger as a scientific pioneer in the fields of neuroscience and cardiovascular science, Dorothy Erlanger remembers her grandfather as a humble person who enjoyed weekly dinners and playing cards with his family. His work as an experimental pioneer led Dr. Erlanger, along with his collaborator Dr. Herbert Gasser, to be the first to visualize an action potential with the cathode-ray oscilloscope. This discovery led to Dr. Erlanger being awarded the Nobel Prize and continues to drive scientific discovery to this day. Listen as Dorothy Erlanger shares anecdotes about her grandfather’s real life as a scientist with engaging personal details, such as the description of the challenges Dr. Erlanger faced trying to obtain clean electrophysiological tracings with a streetcar line running beside the laboratory building. Dr. Ramirez shares the fascinating history of why Dr. Erlanger’s work was so revolutionary. How did Dr. Erlanger’s discovery about the complexities of differently shaped action potentials lead to breakthroughs in anesthesia, analgesia, and our understanding of pain? Listen now and find out.

Erlanger Family Gifts Renowned Physiologist’s Nobel Medal to APS