Neurophysiology & Spinal Studies Laboratory

Contact: Phil Bolton

The nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord, are central to the body's ability to maintain a steady state (Homeostasis) in an every changing environment.

Dysfunction of the brain and spinal cord or its failure to adapt may result in a range of signs and Symptoms.

While the central nervous system is well protected by the skull and vertebral column it remains vulnerable to injury. Aberrant motion of the vertebral column and or excessive forces such as a whiplash event involving the head and neck can cause significant clinical problems. Whiplash Associated Disorders (WADs) include headache, neck pain, dizziness, visual disturbances and disorientation.

Significant injury to the cervical spinal cord can lead to paraplegia or death.

The work being undertaken in this laboratory primarily involves investigations intended to;

Enhance our understanding of fundamental mechanisms by which the brain and spinal cord process sensory information; including that giving rise to pain, and
Determine how dysfunction or injury to the spine effects the brain and spinal cord.

A variety of electrophysiological and anatomical techniques are used by the lab group to answer fundamental questions about the nervous system.

Neurophysiology & & Spinal Studies Lab Images

Click on a thumbnail to view the full-size image in a gallery.
<p align="left"><em>A/Prof Philip Bolton - Head of Lab</em></p> <p align="left"><em>Lateral view of specimen of lower cervical vertebra</em></p> <p align="left"><em>Figure 1. (above) shows an H&amp;E stain of a neck muscle. A small sensory organ Muscle Spindle) is identified at the arrow head. Scale bar = 0.05mm</em>&lt; /P &gt;</p> <p align="left"><em>Figure 2. (above) shows the instantaneous firing rate (Hz) in the top panel of an action potential (green, inset) from a single muscle spindle afferent in response to imposed length changes to the muscle (depicted in blue, bottom panel) .</em></p>
 

Support

Work in this laboratory has been supported by grants from, The Australian NH&MRC, The Australian Spinal Research Foundation, The University of Newcastle and by an Infrastructure Grant from the NSW State Government to the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities exist in this laboratory from time to time. Interested individuals should contact A/Prof Philip Bolton.