Jesse Jackson
Contact
Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Physiology Dept
- 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
NeurophysiologyFeatured Publications
Trends in Neurosciences. 2024 December; 10.1016/j.tins.2024.10.003
Communications Biology. 2024 November; 10.1038/s42003-024-07256-5
Current Biology. 2024 May; 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.044
2024 February; 10.1186/s13041-024-01082-w
Cell Reports. 2024 January; 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113620
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