Vijay Kapgal

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 My current research work is aimed at understanding how the underlying circuit specific dysfunction results in altered behavior in transgenic rat models of autism. Animal behavior is an outcome of co-ordinated crosstalk between multiple brain regions. Neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism present with varied neural dynamics between multiple brain regions leading to altered behavior. Specifically, I'm interested in elucidating the neural cross talk between brain regions that control defensive responses like freezing and escape behaviors in Nlgn3 KO and Cdkl5 KO rats. Further, I would like to evaluate if re-expression of the lost protein in these transgenic rats would alleviate the observed behavioral dysfunction. To do so, I will be using a variety of multi-site, in vivo electrophysiology, viral and optogenetic techniques in awake, behaving rodents.