Patsy S. Dickinson
Professor of Biology, Director of Neuroscience Program
Fall 2008
- Neurophysiology (BIO 253)
- Advanced Independent Study and Honors in Biology (BIO 401)
- Advanced Independent Study and Honors in Neuroscience (NEURO 401)
- Advanced Independent Study and Honors in Neuroscience (NEURO 403)
| Phone | (207) 725-3581 |
| Title | Josiah Little Professor of Natural Sciences |
| Department | BIOLOGY |
| 2nd Title | Professor |
| 2nd Department | NEUROSCIENCE |
| 3rd Title | Program Director |
| 3rd Department | NEUROSCIENCE |
| Work Location | 132 Druckenmiller Hall |
| pdickins@bowdoin.edu |
Education
BA Pomona College
MS University of Washington
PhD University of Washington
Teaching Area
Physiology and Neuroscience
Research Statement
My research is on the ways in which the nervous system controls behavior. In particular, I have been studying the control of relatively simple, rhythmic behaviors, and the modulation or alteration of these behaviors. The goal of these studies is to understand how flexibility in behavior is controlled at the level of the nervous system. Students in my lab and I have been examining the ways in which several small peptides alter the activity of the nerve cells that control the rhythmic movements of the lobster stomach. Because the lobster nervous system is relatively simple, it can be studied in much more detail than is presently possible with vertebrates; we can thus elucidate general principles which can later be applied to more complex species. In studying these problems, we record the electrical activity of individual neurons with microelectrodes and the activity of whole nerves with extracellular electrodes. These techniques are taught and used in the labs in Biology 213 (Introduction to Neuroscience), Biology 214 (Comparative Physiology), and Biology 253 (Comparative Neurobiology).
Recent Publications
Dickinson, P.S., C. Mecsas* and E. Marder (1990) Neuropeptide fusion of two motor pattern generator circuits. Nature 344: 155-158.
Dickinson, P.S., C. Mecsas, J. Hetling*, and K. Terio* (1993) The neuropeptide red pigment concentrating hormone affects rhythmic pattern generation at multiple sites. J. Neurophysiol. 69: 1475- 1483.
Dickinson, P.S. (1995) The contributions of motor neuronal and muscle modulation to behavioral flexibility in the stomatogastric system. Amer. Zool., 35: 548-555.
Dickinson, P.S. (1995) Interactions between neural networks for behavior. Current Opinion in Neurobiol. 5: 792-798.
Dickinson, P. S., *Fairfield, W.P., Helting, J.R., and Hauptman, J. (1997) Neurotransmitter interactions in the stomatogastric system of the spiny lobster: One peptide alters the response of a central pattern generator to a second peptide. J. Neurophysiol.77: 599-610.
*Munno, D.W., Woodin, M.A., Lukowiak, K., Syed, N., Dickinson, P.S. (2000) Different extrinsic trophic factors regulate neurite outgrowth and synapse formation between identified Lymnaea neurons. J. Neurobiol. 44: 20-30.
Dickinson, P.S., Hauptman, J. and Hetling, J. and *Madadevan, A. (2000) RPCH modulation of a multi-oscillator network: Effects on the pyloric network. J. Neurophysiol. 85: 1424-1435.
Mizrahi A, Dickinson PS, Kloppenburg P, Fenelon V, Baro DJ, Harris-Warrick RM, Meyrand P, Simmers J. (2001) Long-term maintenance of channel distribution in a central pattern generator neuron by neuromodulatory inputs revealed by decentralization in organ culture. J Neurosci. 21:7331-7339
* denotes Bowdoin College student author
Research Funding sources since 1990
NSF Research Grant, BNS 9008816, 1990-1994
NSF Research Grant, BNS 9310003, 1993-1996
Human Frontier Science Project Grant (with others), 1991-1994
Human Frontier Science Project Grant (with others), 1994-1996
Whitehall Foundation Grant (with Amy Johnson), 1996-1999
NSF Research Grant, IBN 9723885, 1997-2000
NIH Fogarty Senior Fellowship, 1999-2000
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, 1999-2000
NSF Research Grant, IBN 0111040, 2001-2004
Student Honors Theses
Aaron D. Bornstein (1995) The effects of red pigment concentrating hormone (RPCH) on the pyloric dialtor (PD) neuron of the stomatogastric ganglion of Panulirus interruptus.
Karen A. Terio (1992) The pattern and modulation of the oesophageal network in the stomatogastric system of Panulirus interruptus.
Wesley P. Fairfield (1990) Analysis of a contingent interaction between proctolin and red-pigment concentrating hormone in the lobster stomatogastric nervous system.
Other interests
Music (cello), raising three children