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

In this episode, coauthor Lauren Hewitt discusses her recently published study, “Higher hyperpolarization activated current (Ih) in a subpopulation of interneurons in stratum oriens of area CA1 in the hippocampus of Fragile X mice.” The research examines how inhibitory interneurons are altered in a fragile X mouse model, revealing that increased Ih current reduces the excitability of a specific interneuron subtype. These findings highlight how changes in voltage-gated ion channel function can disrupt the brain’s excitatory/inhibitory balance, offering new insights into circuit dysfunction in fragile X syndrome.

Higher hyperpolarization-activated current in a subpopulation of interneurons in stratum oriens of area CA1 in the hippocampus of fragile X mice

Lauren T. Hewitt, Alyssa M. Marron, and Darrin H. Brager

Journal of Neurophysiology 2025 133:5, 1558-1571

In this episode of the Journal of Neurophysiology’s podcast series, coauthor Andrea Gigliotti discusses the newly published review, “Emerging evidence on the effects of electrode arrangements and other parameters on the application of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation.” Gigliotti explains how computer simulations are helping researchers understand the role of electrode placement, polarity, and tissue properties in shaping tsDCS outcomes. He also describes why dosage may matter less than previously thought and what future trials should consider to make tsDCS more effective in both research and clinical settings.

Emerging evidence on the effects of electrode arrangements and other parameters on the application of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation

Andrea Gigliotti and Hugo M. Pereira

Journal of Neurophysiology 2025 133:2, 709-721