Colenso Speer
Assistant Professor
Contact
Email: cspeer@umd.edu
Phone: 301.405.0178
Fax: 301.314.9489
Lab URL: www.speerlab.com
Research Interest
The brain is a complex and well-organized biological machine containing many circuits working in parallel. We are interested in understanding how molecular-genetic developmental programs and activity in immature neural networks intersect to drive the maturation of neural circuits, regulate their ongoing plasticity, and contribute to system failures in disease states.
To narrow the problem, we focus on studying the development of parallel sensory processing pathways in the mammalian visual system. The retina uses specialized circuits to parse different properties of the visual world such as color, contrast, luminance, and motion into separate functional channels. These independent representations are then carried by separate subtypes of neurons from the eyes to different central targets in the brain. Early in development, connections from the eyes to the brain are imprecise. Over time, synaptic connections are refined to generate ordered communication between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners. The mechanisms instructing this process are unknown.
We design experiments to investigate the development and plasticity of structure/function relationships in parallel visual microcircuits in retinorecipient areas. We use genetic labeling technologies, electrophysiological recording methods, and advanced structural imaging tools to mark specific neural circuits, characterize their function, and reconstruct their molecular and synaptic architecture. Our goal is to further our understanding of neural circuit development and make contributions toward the development of cures for neurodevelopmental disorders and blinding diseases.
Select Publications
Sigal YM*, Speer CM*, Babcock HP, Zhuang X. Mapping Synaptic Input Fields of Neurons with Super-Resolution Imaging. Cell. 2015 Oct 8;163(2):493-505.*Equal contributions
Viswanathan S, Williams ME, Bloss EB, Stasevich TJ, Speer CM, Nern A, Pfeiffer BD, Hooks BM, Li WP, English BP, Tian T, Henry GL, Macklin JJ, Patel R, Gerfen CR, Zhuang X, Wang Y, Rubin GM, Looger LL. High-performance probes for light and electron microscopy. Nat Methods. 2015 Jun;12(6):568-76.
Speer CM*, Sun C*, Liets LC, Stafford BK, Chapman B, Cheng HJ. Eye-specific retinogeniculate segregation proceeds normally following disruption of patterned spontaneous retinal activity. Neural Dev. 2014 Nov 7;9:25. *Equal contributions
Speer CM, Sun C, Chapman B. Activity-dependent disruption of intersublaminar spaces and ABAKAN expression does not impact functional on and off organization in the ferret retinogeniculate system. Neural Dev. 2011 Mar 14;6:7.
Speer CM, Mikula S, Huberman AD, Chapman B. The developmental remodeling of eye-specific afferents in the ferret dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2010 Jan;293(1):1-24.
Sun C*, Speer CM*, Wang GY, Chapman B, Chalupa LM. Epibatidine application in vitro blocks retinal waves without silencing all retinal ganglion cell action potentials in developing retina of the mouse and ferret. J Neurophysiol. 2008 Dec;100(6):3253-63. *Equal contributions
Education
Postdoctoral fellow, Harvard University, 2016
Ph.D. Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, 2010
B.S. Molecular Biosciences/Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 2004
Contact
Email: cspeer@umd.edu
Phone: 301.405.0178
Fax: 301.314.9489
Lab URL: www.speerlab.com
Research Interest
The brain is a complex and well-organized biological machine containing many circuits working in parallel. We are interested in understanding how molecular-genetic developmental programs and activity in immature neural networks intersect to drive the maturation of neural circuits, regulate their ongoing plasticity, and contribute to system failures in disease states.
To narrow the problem, we focus on studying the development of parallel sensory processing pathways in the mammalian visual system. The retina uses specialized circuits to parse different properties of the visual world such as color, contrast, luminance, and motion into separate functional channels. These independent representations are then carried by separate subtypes of neurons from the eyes to different central targets in the brain. Early in development, connections from the eyes to the brain are imprecise. Over time, synaptic connections are refined to generate ordered communication between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners. The mechanisms instructing this process are unknown.
We design experiments to investigate the development and plasticity of structure/function relationships in parallel visual microcircuits in retinorecipient areas. We use genetic labeling technologies, electrophysiological recording methods, and advanced structural imaging tools to mark specific neural circuits, characterize their function, and reconstruct their molecular and synaptic architecture. Our goal is to further our understanding of neural circuit development and make contributions toward the development of cures for neurodevelopmental disorders and blinding diseases.
Select Publications
Sigal YM*, Speer CM*, Babcock HP, Zhuang X. Mapping Synaptic Input Fields of Neurons with Super-Resolution Imaging. Cell. 2015 Oct 8;163(2):493-505.*Equal contributions
Viswanathan S, Williams ME, Bloss EB, Stasevich TJ, Speer CM, Nern A, Pfeiffer BD, Hooks BM, Li WP, English BP, Tian T, Henry GL, Macklin JJ, Patel R, Gerfen CR, Zhuang X, Wang Y, Rubin GM, Looger LL. High-performance probes for light and electron microscopy. Nat Methods. 2015 Jun;12(6):568-76.
Speer CM*, Sun C*, Liets LC, Stafford BK, Chapman B, Cheng HJ. Eye-specific retinogeniculate segregation proceeds normally following disruption of patterned spontaneous retinal activity. Neural Dev. 2014 Nov 7;9:25. *Equal contributions
Speer CM, Sun C, Chapman B. Activity-dependent disruption of intersublaminar spaces and ABAKAN expression does not impact functional on and off organization in the ferret retinogeniculate system. Neural Dev. 2011 Mar 14;6:7.
Speer CM, Mikula S, Huberman AD, Chapman B. The developmental remodeling of eye-specific afferents in the ferret dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2010 Jan;293(1):1-24.
Sun C*, Speer CM*, Wang GY, Chapman B, Chalupa LM. Epibatidine application in vitro blocks retinal waves without silencing all retinal ganglion cell action potentials in developing retina of the mouse and ferret. J Neurophysiol. 2008 Dec;100(6):3253-63. *Equal contributions
Education
Postdoctoral fellow, Harvard University, 2016
Ph.D. Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, 2010
B.S. Molecular Biosciences/Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 2004