Dirk Bucher Dirk Bucher studies plasticity and homeostasis of network function, motor pattern generation, and dopamine modulation of motor axons. Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Investigator, Whitney Laboratories Training Postdoc – Dept. of Animal Physiology, University of Cologne, Germany; Biology Dept., Brandeis University, Waltham, MA Ph.D. – Biology Dept., Free University of Berlin, Germany Diploma – Biology Dept., Free University of Berlin, Germany Contact phone: 904.461.4047 office: Rm 20b Whitney Labs lab: Rm 20 Whitney Labs email: bucher@whitney.ufl.edu Bucher Lab Site Our lab uses the central pattern generating networks (CPGs) found in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of crustaceans to study the regulation and variability of neuron and network properties and activity. CPGs are networks that generate rhythmic activity for crucial behaviors like walking and breathing. The STG contains only about 30 neurons and the connectivity is established, which makes it an ideal test bed for regulation of network output. Neuronal homeostasis has been investigated at the level of intrinsic membrane properties and synaptic strengths. However, ultimately, behavior depends on the performance of entire networks. We combine anatomical and imaging techniques, electrophysiology and biophysical measurements to investigate how tightly neuronal and synaptic properties need to be regulated to achieve functional network performance, and how such regulation can be achieved at the cellular and synaptic level. Recent Publications Neuronal morphology and neuropil structure in the stomatogastric ganglion of the lobster, Homarus americanus. Bucher D, Johnson CD, Marder E. J Comp Neurol 2007 501(2):185-205. Central pattern generating neurons simultaneously express fast and slow rhythmic activities in the stomatogastric ganglion. Bucher D, Taylor AL, Marder E. J Neurophysiol. 2006 Feb 22; [Epub ahead of print] Animal-to-animal variability in motor pattern production in adults and during growth. Bucher D, Prinz AA, Marder E. J Neurosci. 2005 Feb 16;25(7):1611-9. Similar network activity from disparate circuit parameters. Prinz AA, Bucher D, Marder E. Nat Neurosci. 2004 Dec;7(12):1345-52. Epub 2004 Nov 21.