

Dr. Tal Laviv
Neurons in the brain have a remarkable capacity to undergo changes in function and structure throughout life. How does sensory experience alter neuronal activity and ultimately triggers behavioral adaptations? We address this question by studying the role of neuronal biochemical signaling dynamics in experience dependent plasticity. We use advanced microscopy, gene editing and in vivo imaging to unravel protein signaling dynamics and neuronal activity in awake behaving mice.
The lab focuses on studying the role of neuronal transcription factors and the how they shape long-lasting synaptic plasticity. In addition, we study the principles of synapse-nucleus communication in cortical circuits, and examine how failure in this signaling feature can lead to cognitive and developmental disorders in the nervous system. We are also continuously developing new techniques to allow monitoring and manipulating neuronal signaling in the living brain.
Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience
System & Physiological Neuroscience
- Laviv, T#., Scholl, B., Parra-Bueno, P., Foote, B., Zhang C., Yan, L., Hayano, Y., Chu, J., Yasuda, R#. (2020). In vivo imaging of the coupling between neuronal and CREB activity in the mouse brain. Neuron, 105. #Co-corresponding author. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31883788/
- Laviv, T. *, Kim, B.B. *, Chu, J., Lam, A.J., Lin, M.Z., and Yasuda, R. (2016). Simultaneous dual-color fluorescence lifetime imaging with novel red-shifted fluorescent proteins. Nature Methods 13. https://www.nature.com/articles/nmeth.4046
- Nishizono, H#., Yasuda, R. #, Laviv, T.# (2020) Methodologies and challenges for CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing of the mammalian brain. Frontiers in Genome Editing. (Review Article). #Co-corresponding authors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgeed.2020.602970/full
- Harward, S.C., Hedrick, N.G., Hall, C.E., Parra-Bueno, P., Milner, T.A., Pan, E., Laviv, T., Hempstead, B.L., Yasuda, R., and McNamara, J.O. (2016). Autocrine BDNF-TrkB signalling within a single dendritic spine. Nature. 538. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature19766
- Laviv, T.*, Riven, I.*, Dolev, I., Vertkin, I., Balana, B., Slesinger, P.A., and Slutsky, I. (2010). Basal GABA regulates GABAB conformation and release probability at single hippocampal synapses. Neuron 67.* Co-first author. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627310005064