James Baldassano

jabaldas@terpmail.umd.edu

 
  • James Baldassano
  • Graduate Student
  • Dept. Biology
  • Neurosci. and Cog. Science Program (NACS)
  • Fellow, T32 Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing
  Education: BA Binghamton University
  Marine Biological Lab, 2019 Neurobiology course
  Contact: jabaldas@terpmail.umd.edu
  Teaching:
   

I am a PhD candidate in Dr. Katrina MacLeod's electrophysiology lab. I am particularly interested in how spectrotemporal information is accurately encoded in early brain circuits. I previously studied how low threshold activated potassium channels shape temporal sensitivity in neurons that encode sound intensity information in avian models. Currently, I am studying the anatomy of cell-type specific inhibitory circuits in the avian auditory brainstem and how this inhibition contributes to intensity coding. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing piano/keyboard, playing basketball, and playing boardgames!

 

 

Publications:

  • Baldassano JF, MacLeod KM. (2022) Kv1 channels regulate variations in spike patterning and temporal reliability in the avian cochlear nucleus angularis. J Neurophysiol. 2022 Jan 1;127(1):116-129. doi: 10.1152/jn.00460.2021 Epub 2021 Nov 24. PMID: 34817286; PMCID: PMC8742726.

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    Conference Presentations:

    1. Baldassano, JF, MacLeod KM. Electrophysiological correlates of divergent projections of the avian superior olivary nucleus, Gordon Research Seminar, 2022 July.
    2. Baldassano JF, MacLeod KM. Electrophysiology of the avian superior olivary nucleus. Association for Research in Otolaryngology; 2022 February
    3. Baldassano, JF, MacLeod KM. Kv1 channels regulate spiking in the avian cochlear nucleus angularis. American Preceding’s in Auditory Neuroscience; 2021 November
    4. Baldassano, JF, MacLeod KM. Low-threshold activated Kv1 channels regulate spike patterning and temporal features in the cochlear nucleus angularis. Association for Research in Otolaryngology; 2021 February