Research - Physiology and Neuroscience

Physiology hosts internationally prominent neurobiology research teams which use a wide variety of methods, often combining electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques. The research strategies are based on an integrative approach by addressing questions at different levels of organization (from molecules to behaviour) and at different stages of development, under normal and pathophysiological states, etc. In addition to neuroscience, research is done on respiration physiology and on the control mechanisms of pubertal development.

Current research groups / projects in alphabetical order according to group leader

Professor Kristian Donner: Laboratory of Visual Neurophysiology and Psychophysics
The vision group investigates key factors that influence the performance of animal and human visual systems. >> Read more

Professor Kai Kaila: Laboratory of Neurobiology
Our team investigates the biophysical, ion-regulatory and molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and plasticity in the brain. Our research strategy is based on using a number of electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques on research models ranging from cloned receptors and isolated or cultured neurons to brain tissue slices, and to the human brain in vivo. >> Read more

Docent Sari Lauri and docent Tomi Taira: Laboratory of Synaptic Development and Plasticity
This project aims at elucidating the activity-dependent mechanisms that regulate development and plasticity of neuronal connections in the mammalian brain, focusing on the maturation of synaptic circuitry in the newborn rat hippocampus. >> Read more and Neuroscience Center

University lecturer Klaus Tähkä: Neural and hormonal control mechanisms in pubertal development
Seasonally breeding rodents and transformed neurons are utilized to study the hormonal and neuroendocrine control of pubertal development. >> Read more

Professor Juha Voipio: Laboratory of Neurobiophysics
This group investigates biophysical mechanisms involved in synaptic and nonsynaptic transmission; in particular causally linked signaling mechanisms that are mediated by neurotransmitter receptors and other proteins such as the neuronal KCl cotransporter and carbonic anhydrase isoforms KCC2 and CA VII. >> Read more