The research activities in our lab focus on understanding how locomotor patterns develop in the neonatal mouse. The spinal cord contains sufficient circuitry necessary to produce a full functional pattern. We ask questions regarding the function of the circuit with the long-term goal of developing therapeutic applications for clinical use. We use an in vitro spinal cord preparation of the neonatal mouse that can survive in the dish and can produce functional locomotor-like patterns.This allows us to use a number of electrophysiological, lesion and imaging tools to investigate questions reagarding the function of networks that produce locomotor activity. We also use in vivo approaches to assess the development locomotion using kinematic approaches. This allows us to ask questions regarding motor development in the intact animal.
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***NOW RECRUITING GRADUATE STUDENTS***
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Dr. Patrick Whelan, Ph.D. Professor, Hotchkiss Brain InstituteDepartment of Comparative Biology and Experimental MedicineJointly Appointed in: Faculties of Veterinary Medicine & Medicine & Kinesiology HSC 2119 University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta, CanadaOffice: (403) 220-4210Lab: (403) 220-8427Fax: (403) 283-2700
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Research Support
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