We are interested in the cellular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity in the central nervous system and functional implications of such plastic changes. Long-term plastic changes in synaptic transmission are believed to contribute to information storage in the brain. The laboratory employs a combination of genetic, electrophysiological, pharmacological and behavioral approaches. At the single neuron level, whole-cell patch clamp recordings of synaptic responses are made from single neurons in brain and spinal cord slices. At the system level, neuronal evoked responses in intact or freely moving animals are performed to study neuronal plasticity in emotional learning, persistent pain and drug addiction. At the behavioral level, a combination of pharmacological and genetic approaches in mice (genetic mutant mice) allows us to study molecular mechanisms of emotional fear memory and pain.