Jesse Jackson

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Physiology Dept

Contact

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Physiology Dept
Email
jackson4@ualberta.ca

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

claustrum optogenetics neural connectivity calcium imaging electrophysiology neural synchronization inhibition


About

I am an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology. I received by PhD in 2013 from McGill University, and I completed two post-doctoral positions: 1) Columbia University in the laboratory of Dr. Rafael Yuste, 2) Janelia Research Campus in the laboratory of Dr. Alberta Lee.

Research

1. The organization of neocortical networks. The neocortex is made up of different cells types. How do different cell types connect, and how do connectivity motifs enable specific activity patterns? We use in vivo calcium imaging and electrophysiology in awake mice to explore how ensembles of neurons in the neocortex correlate with behavior. In addition, we explore the roles of different cells types in the cortex through optogenetic and pharmacogenetic perturbation.

2. The claustrum is a small subcortical region with exceptionally dense connections with many cortical regions. However, very little is known regarding the function of the claustrum. We have developed methods to specifically manipulate and record neural activity within the claustrum while maintaining pathway specificity. Experiments will be designed to determine the behavioral correlates of claustrum activity and the necessity of claustrocortical pathways for innate and goal directed behavior.

3. The circuits and neural mechanisms in the brain supporting social recognition. Mice, similar to humans, are highly social. What are the brain networks that control various aspects of social behavior in mice? How do mice recognize and and learn from each other?



Teaching

Neurophysiology

Featured Publications

Claustrum lesions lead to changes in behavioural strategy during reversal learning in a spatial memory task

Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/meeting-2022/abstract-book/. 2022 April;


Contributions of claustro-cortical connections in acute and persistent pain

Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/meeting-2022/abstract-book/. 2022 April;


Cortical effects of chemogenetic modulation of claustral activity using DREADDs in Thy-1- GCaMP6s mice.

Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/meeting-2022/abstract-book/. 2022 April;


Investigating the role of the claustrum in regulating the development of cortical networks

Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/meeting-2022/abstract-book/. 2022 April;


Investigating the role of the claustrum in the control of behavioral state

Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/meeting-2022/abstract-book/. 2022 April;


Observing in-vivo claustrum activity during sleep using two photon microscopy

Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/meeting-2022/abstract-book/. 2022 April;


Spatially patterned excitatory neuron subtypes and projections within the claustrum

Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/meeting-2022/abstract-book/. 2022 April;


Do A.D., Jackson J.

NEURON. 2022 February; 110 (3):356-357 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.003


Erwin S.R., Bristow B.N., Sullivan K.E., Kendrick R.M., Marriott B., Wang L., Clements J., Lemire A.L., Jackson J., Cembrowski M.S.

eLife. 2021 August; 10 10.7554/eLife.68967


Poitras T., Piragasam R.S., Joy T., Jackson J., Chandrasekhar A., Fahlman R., Zochodne D.W.

JOURNAL OF ANATOMY. 2021 March; 239 (2):529-535 10.1111/joa.13423


Smith J.B., Lee A.K., Jackson J.

CURRENT BIOLOGY. 2020 December; 30 (23):R1401-R1406 10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.069