Luis Populin, PhD

Education
BS 1978, Physical Education, IPEF, Cordoba, Argentina
MS 1988, Motor Behavior, Oregon State University
PhD 1996, Neuroscience and Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Post Doc 1996, Anatomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests
Dr. Populin’s laboratory uses physiological recordings from single cells in animals whose heads are unrestrained to identify the mechanisms that integrate sensory information from different modalities, and serve to generate motor actions. Many current theories grounded on data from anesthetized preparations separate perception and action, with sensory information analyzed/extracted at different cortical (perceptual) stages before the decision-making and motor domains. This disregards direct connections to motor centers at all levels of sensory processing and creates a need for interfaces to transform sensory signals into motor commands.

In order to define structural and functional links between specific sensory inputs and motor outputs Dr. Populin’s lab is undertaking parallel series of experiments of the oculomotor system in humans, cats, and monkeys. Humans, which can be given precise instructions, provide a psychophysical benchmark. Animals, which are instructed with operant conditioning, are suitable for invasive anatomical, behavioral, physiological, and imaging studies. With this combination of approaches, the lab expects to define the mechanisms that link sensory inputs to motor outputs.

Publications
PubMed Listing of Publications