In our laboratory we are studying two research themes: How neurons signal visual stimuli, specifically the synchronizing processes encoding various features of images. The physiology of neuronal plasticity. Neurons of the visual cortex are presented a non-preferred stimulus for several minutes. Following this adaptation many cells shift their preferred stimulus in the direction of the adapter. We are studying the mechanisms of these plastic changes in mature adult cortex.

Bachatene L., Bharmauria V.,MOLOTCHNIKOFF S. 2012 Adaptation and Neuronal Network In Visual Cortex: current status and perspectives Eds Intech 1-18 pages doi.org/105772/46011 Bachatene, L., Bharmauria V., Rouat J., Molotchnikoff S, 2012 Adaptation-induced plasticity and spike-waveforms in cat visual cortex. NeuroReport 23: 88-92 doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32834e7e71 MOLOTCHNIKOFF, S and J., Rouat. Brain at work:Time, Sparseness and Multiplexing/Superposition principles. Front. Biosci. (Landmark Edition) Jan 1;17:583-606. (2012) Rouat, J., Loiselle, S., and MOLOTCHNIKOFF, S. Frame rate Hierarchical Analysis for robust speech recognition Proceedings IEEE/RSJ inter. conf. on Intelligent robots and systems In press Marchansky S., Shumikhina, S., S., MOLOTCHNIKOFF. Repetitive adaptation induces plasticity of spatial frequency tuning in cat primary visual cortex. Neurosci 172 : 355-365 (2011) doi:10.1016j.neuroscience.2010017 Ghisovan N., Nemri A., Shumikhina S., MOLOTCHNIKOFF, S Visual cells remember earlier applied target: Plasticity of orientation selectivity. PLoS ONE Vol 3 p 1-10 (2008) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003689