معرفی
Alfonso Apicella is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Sciences. He leads the Apicella Lab, where his research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying perception through the study of cortical microcircuits.
Research Interests:
- Neural basis of perception
- Cortical microcircuit physiology
- Sensory information processing
- Optogenetic and pharmacological manipulation of neural circuits
- In vitro and in vivo electrophysiology
His work integrates cellular and systems-level approaches to dissect how populations of neurons encode sensory stimuli and generate behavioral responses. The lab uses advanced techniques including optogenetics, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, confocal microscopy, and stereotaxic viral injections.
Lab and Research Technology:
- Advanced light and confocal microscopy for brain imaging and morphological analysis
- In vivo and in vitro electrophysiological recording stations
- Custom and commercial software for real-time data analysis
- Optogenetic manipulation and viral delivery systems
Education:
- Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Naples, Italy
- B.S., University of Naples, Italy
Scientific Awards:
- No awards mentioned in the provided text.
Advising and Research Activity:
Dr. Apicella is actively mentoring PhD students, including Crystal Rock and Hector Zurita, and is currently recruiting postdoctoral researchers, indicating active grant-supported research. His lab investigates synaptic and circuit mechanisms in the auditory cortex, combining in vitro and in vivo approaches to understand neural coding and behavior.
