Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Faculty Profiles
Peter Penzes, PhD

Peter Penzes, PhD

Director, Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment

Ruth and Evelyn Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Professor of Physiology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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Focus of Work

Bio

SYNAPTIC STRUCTURAL PLASTICITY: FROM MOLECULES TO
COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND DISEASE

Research in my lab centers on signal transduction networks that regulate the structural and functional plasticity of excitatory synapses. Synaptic communication between neurons within brain circuits underlies cognitive functions, and is disrupted in numerous neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Most central excitatory synapses are located on dendritic spines, and spine structure is essential for nor...[Read full text]SYNAPTIC STRUCTURAL PLASTICITY: FROM MOLECULES TO
COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND DISEASE

Research in my lab centers on signal transduction networks that regulate the structural and functional plasticity of excitatory synapses. Synaptic communication between neurons within brain circuits underlies cognitive functions, and is disrupted in numerous neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Most central excitatory synapses are located on dendritic spines, and spine structure is essential for normal and pathological brain function. Spine dynamics is crucial for the establishment, maintenance, and experience dependent modification of connectivity in neural circuits. Conversely, abnormal dendritic spine morphology occurs in patients with neurodegenerative, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease.

As spine morphology is closely associated with cognitive functions, understanding the mechanisms of regulation and dysregulation of spine plasticity is necessary to elucidate the neural bases of cognitive functions and disorders. The long-term goals of my research are:

1) to identify and characterize the molecular mechanisms that control synaptic structural plasticity. 2) to determine how they influence the development, functioning, and plasticity of brain circuits underlying cognition. 3) to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic pathology and determine their impact on disease endophenotypes. To to achieve these objectives, we employ a multidisciplinary array of molecular, cellular, imaging, transgenic, electrophysiological, and behavioral approaches, and have assembled an outstanding team of collaborators.[Shorten text]

Keywords

NeuroscienceBrain and Nervous SystemAlzheimer's DiseaseCytoskeletonNervous System DiseasesAutism Spectrum DisordersSchizophreniaSignal Transduction

Education and Certification

  • PhD: SUNY - Buffalo, Biochemistry (1997)

Contact

312-503-5379

Ward Building Room 5-654
303 E Chicago Avenue
Chicago IL 60611

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Institutes and Centers