Indira M. Raman
Bill and Gayle Cook Professor, Chair
- i-raman@northwestern.edu
- 847-467-7912
- Cook 2-131
Specializations
Regions(s): Systems Neuroscience; Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Research interest(s): Ion channel biophysics; Neuronal excitability; Synaptic Transmission; Cerebellar physiology
Research Summary
Ionic mechanisms of neuronal excitability
Information in the nervous system is transmitted by electrical signals (action potentials) within neurons and by chemical signals between neurons. The research interests of this lab are in studying the biophysical properties of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels intrinsic to neurons, as well as in understanding the physiological consequences of the different patterns of activity characteristic of specific neurons.
We are currently studying neurons of the cerebellum, a brain region that participates in controlling movements. Projects in the lab focus on the ion channel properties responsible for specific patterns of firing, the transmission of synaptic signals from Purkinje to cerebellar nuclear cells, the responses of cerebellar nuclear cells to different patterns of synaptic input, and the activity and changes in cerebellar neuronal spiking during motor behaviors and learning.
Selected Publications
- Brown, S.T. and Raman, I.M. (2018). Sensorimotor integration and amplification of reflexive whisking by well-timed spiking in the cerebellar corticonuclear circuit. Neuron. 99(3):564-575 .
- Sarnaik, R. and Raman, I.M. (2018). Control of voluntary and optogenetically perturbed locomotion by spike rate and timing of neurons of the mouse cerebellar nuclei. eLife. 7:e29546.
- Najac, M. and Raman, I.M. (2017). Synaptic excitation by climbing fibre collaterals in the cerebellar nuclei of juvenile and adult mice. Journal of Physiology. 595(21):6703-6718.
- Harmon, T.C., Magaram, U., McLean, D.L., Raman, I.M. (2017). Distinct responses of Purkinje neurons and roles of simple spikes during associative motor learning in larval zebrafish. eLife. 6:e22537.
- Wu, Y., Raman, I.M. (2017). Facilitation of mossy fibre-driven spiking in the cerebellar nuclei by the synchrony of inhibition. Journal of Physiology. 595(15):5245-5264.
- Mercer, A.A., Palarz, K.J., Tabatadze, N., Woolley, C.S., and Raman, I.M. (2016). Sex differences in cerebellar synaptic transmission and sex-specific responses to autism-linked Gabrb3 mutations in mice. eLife. 5:e07596.
- Najac, M. and Raman, I.M. (2015). Integration of Purkinje cell inhibition by cerebellar nucleo-olivary neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 35(2):544-549.
- Lewis, A.H. and Raman, I.M. (2013). Interactions among DIV voltage sensor movement, fast inactivation, and resurgent Na current induced by the NaVb4 open-channel blocking peptide. Journal of General Physiology. 142(3):191-206.
- Person, A.L. and Raman, I.M. (2012). Purkinje neuron synchrony elicits time-locked spiking in the cerebellar nuclei. Nature. 481(7382):502-505.
- Lewis, A.H. and Raman, I.M. (2011). Cross-species conservation of open-channel block by Na channel b4 peptides reveals structural features required for resurgent Na current. Journal of Neuroscience. 31(32):11527-11536.
- Bant, J.S. and Raman, I.M. (2010). Control of transient, resurgent, and persistent current by open-channel block by Na channel b4 in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107(27):12357-12362.
- Person, A.L. and Raman, I.M. (2010). Deactivation of L-type Ca current by inhibition controls LTP at excitatory synapses in the cerebellar nuclei. Neuron. 66(4):550-559.
Selected Honors
- 2014 NINDS Javits Award
- 2013 Installed as Bill And Gayle Cook Professor, Northwestern University
- 2010–13 Charles Deering Mccormick Professor Of Teaching Excellence, Northwestern Univeristy.
- 2009 Integrated Science Program Faculty Service Award, Northwestern University
- 2008 Excellence In Instruction Award, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Graduate Program, Northwestern University
- 2006 Clarence Ver Steeg Award For Graduate Faculty, Northwestern University
- 2004 Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University
- 2001–04 Joseph And Esther A. Klingenstein Fellowship Award In The Neurosciences
- 2000–03 Searle Foundation Scholarship
- 1999–01 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship