Daniel Johnston, Ph.D.

Neuroscience

Active properties of neuronal dendrites

Dr. Johnston was honored for his work in combining sophisticated optical imaging with direct patch-clamp recording from vanishingly small neuronal processes (dendrites and axons). His work provides key insights into the mechanisms by which action potentials back-propagate into dendrites and the role they play in synpatic integration and synaptic plasticity. This research has important implications for the fields of neurobiology and learning and memory, and also suggests new models for neuronal computations.

Dr. Johnston’s nomination was based on the following publications:

Magee JC, Johnston D." Synaptic activation of voltage-gated channels in the dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons.". Science. 1995 Apr 14;268(5208):301-4.

Magee JC, Johnston D. " Characterization of single voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ channels in apical dendrites of rat CA1 pyramidal neurons.". J Physiol. 1995 Aug 15;487 ( Pt 1):67-90.

Williams SH, Johnston D. " Actions of endogenous opioids on NMDA receptor-independent long-term potentiation in area CA3 of the hippocampus. ". J Neurosci. 1996 Jun 1;16(11):3652-60.

Avery RB, Johnston D. " . Multiple channel types contribute to the low-voltage-activated calcium current in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons. ". J Neurosci. 1996 Sep 15;16(18):5567-82.

Colbert CM, Johnston D. " Axonal action-potential initiation and Na+ channel densities in the soma and axon initial segment of subicular pyramidal neurons. ". J Neurosci. 1996 Nov 1;16(21):6676-86.

Magee JC, Johnston D. " A synaptically controlled, associative signal for Hebbian plasticity in hippocampal neurons. ". Science. 1997 Jan 10;275(5297):209-13.

Hoffman DA, Magee JC, Colbert CM, Johnston D. " K+ channel regulation of signal propagation in dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. ".Nature. 1997 Jun 26;387(6636):869-75.