Education: Hon. BSc
E-mail: tdexter@uwo.ca
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dexter-854366209/
Description of Research Projects:
My research focusses on understanding how neural circuitry in the prefrontal cortex modulates cognition under non-pathological and disease states. Specifically, I am interested in how the coordinated activity of inhibitory neurons within the prefrontal cortex facilitates processes such as attention and working memory. To investigate these links, I use in vivo optogenetics and fiber photometry, which allow us to manipulate and image the activity of specific neuron types while animals perform touchscreen cognitive tasks. This approach allows a highly specific and temporally precise assessment of how these neurons are involved in supporting cognition. As we continue to identify a fundamental link between neural activity and cognitive performance, we are now beginning to apply these techniques to studying cognitive impairments in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.