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Thomas
Foster |
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| Thomas
Foster uses behavioral characterization with biochemical, molecular,
and electrophysiological techniques to obtain an integrated perspective
of brain aging, from the molecular to the cognitive level. |
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Professor of Neuroscience
McKnight Chair for Research on Aging and Memory
Investigator, McKnight Brain Institute
Training
Postdoc - Arizona Research Laboratories, University of Arizona,
Tucson, AZ Mentors: Carol Barnes and Bruce McNaughton
Ph.D. Physiology/Pharmacology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem NC
B.S. Psychology/Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson
AZ
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Contact
phone:
352.392.4359
office: MBI L2-177
lab: MBI L2-128,132
email:foster@mbi.ufl.edu
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Synaptic plasticity is thought to mediate the associative and
information storage properties of neurons, and intracellular
Ca2+ levels occupy a pivotal position in regulating synaptic
plasticity by determining whether synaptic strength increases
or decreases in response to neuronal activation. Changes in
synaptic strength involve biochemical cascades and ultimately
changes in gene regulation. One area of research in my laboratory
is directed toward examining the role of Ca2+ in mediating age-related
changes in synaptic plasticity, biochemistry and transcription.
The other area involves examining age-relate changes in estrogen.
Many effects of estrogen are opposite to those observed during
aging; however, the efficacy of the hormone is reduced if therapy
is initiated several years after the onset on menopause or after
the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are manifest.
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| Research
Associates |
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| Li
Cui , M.D., Ph.D. |
Research
Assistant Professor |
| Ashok
Kumar , Ph.D. |
Research
Assistant Professor |
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Recent
Publications
Susceptibility to induction of long-term deptression is associated with imparied memory in aged 344 rats. Foster TC, Kumar A. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2007 87:522-535.
Calcium homeostasis and modulation of synaptic plasticity in the aged brain. Foster TC. Aging Cell 2007 6:319-325.
Biological markers of age-related memory deficits: treatment of senescent physiology. Foster TC. CNS Drugs 2006 20:153-166.
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