Modulation of mechanosensory neurons

Sensory nerve cells that detect mechanical or pain signals are found in all parts of our body. In the skin they sense touch or pressure, in the inner ear they detect sound vibrations, and in our internal organs they are used for functions such as detecting the blood pressure or stretching of the gastrointestinal wall. The sensitivities of all sensory nerve cells are controlled by other nerve cells, which release chemical substances that are detected by specific protein receptor molecules on the surfaces of the sensory cells. These control systems are needed to adjust the functions of sensory cells for different situations and to operate in coordination with other signals that we receive via other sensory systems, such as vision or olfaction. Failures of these control systems can lead to problems such as oversensitivity ( e.g., the inherited startle disease), increased muscle tension or chronic pain. Research in my laboratory concentrates on the basic mechanisms of how these control systems function, what are the chemical substances that are released and the types of protein receptor molecules that they act upon. We also try to understand how the many different systems that control the sensory neurons interact. This research has the potential to find new ways to treat diseases that affect mechanosensory, motor and pain pathways.