Michael A. Freed

Michael A. Freed is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the structure and function of the vertebrate visual system, particularly the interaction of disparate retinal ganglion cell messages in the visual thalamus.

• B.A. in Psychology, Yale University (1976)
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania (1985)

Using techniques such as in vitro retina and brain slices, whole cell recording, transgenic mice, and computer modeling, Freed investigates inhibitory mechanisms in the visual thalamus. His lab employs optogenetics (channelrhodopsin/halorhodopsin) to study how interneurons modify information transmission to the cortex, with implications for retinal prostheses.

Recent publications highlight work on ON/OFF pathway asymmetry, synaptic noise, cross-inhibition mechanisms, and retinal ganglion cell synaptic patterns. His research contributes to understanding visual signal processing and designing vision restoration technologies.

Contact:
131 John Morgan Building
3620 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Email: mafreed@mac.com