Associate Professor
Ph.D., Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, 1988
Neurophysiology of Cortical Connections

Email: lcauller@utdallas.edu
Phone: 972-883-2436
Office: GR 4.813

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Professional Narrative

Work in our laboratory has concentrated upon the structure and function of the cerebral cortex and its role in the emergence of higher functions such as perception and interactive behavior. We have traced the circuits in cortex that interconnect the areas of cortex which are essential for conscious behavior and we have developed new ways to study the functions of these synaptic interconnections. We have integrated our findings in the form of large-scale computer models of cortical interactions so we may examine its development over long periods within nurturing environments. This work has culminated in a new theory of cortical 'neurointeractivity' which attempts to explain the emergence of higher cortical functions on the basis of the dynamical interaction between cortical neurons, between cortical areas, between the cortex and the environment, and ultimately between the cortical brains of interacting individuals. This new theory views perception as a pro-active behavior; subjective experience is created by the cortex; the senses are only used to test the validity of one's subjective model of reality.

Our current projects are developing methods to record the interactivity of many cortical neurons simultaneously during behavior. In particular, such methods have given rise to the new field of 'neuroprosthetics' which involves turning patterns of cortical activity into commands for the direct control of peripheral devices such as computers, voice synthesizers or robotic arms. This technology offers hope to more than 100,000 Americans living with spinal cord injuries who cannot move their arms or legs. Imagine giving a brilliant physicist, like Stephen Hawking, who is so disabled he cannot speak, the ability to directly communicate with his mind - this is the promise of neuroprosthetics.

In cooperation with an innovative local company, Zyvex Inc., we have designed and patented microscopic wireless probes that may provide paralyzed patients with the safest means to take advantage of this new neuroprosthetic technology. We are currently testing these probes in our laboratory. We are also employing these neuroprosthetics techniques to test our theory of neurointeractivity using animals that are trained to use their brain activity to directly control sound generators. In other words, we are giving these animals a new ability - to directly 'talk' to us. This unique approach will provide an unprecedented analysis of the changes that take place in the cortex as it learns to predict the auditory consequences of its newly acquired ability to communicate with sounds.

Research Interests

My research examines the basic function of circuits within the cerebral cortex. Since damage to this part of the brain disrupts cognitive functions like memory and perception, a better understanding of how cortical circuits operate promises to shed light on normal cognition and pathologies like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. My current projects employ the following neuroscience techniques: (1) neural tract tracing to identify the connections between cortical areas and the rest of the brain; (2) extracellular field potentials and current source density analysis to identify the sites where a given connection activates its target; and (3) intracellular synaptic physiology in living slices of cortex to evaluate the effectiveness of a connection. The results of these experiments are being incorporated into a computational model for the computer simulation of cortical sensory processing.

Recent Publications

Cauller, L.J. (2003). The Neurointeractive Paradigm: Dynamical mechanics and the emergence of higher cortical function. Computational Models for the Neurosciences. Hecht-Neilsen, R. and McKenna, T. (Eds.). Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag, 1-23.

Cauller, L.J. and Penz, A.P. (2002). Artificial brains and natural intelligence. In: Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno: Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance, Roco, M. and Bainbridge, W.S. (Eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Mitchell, B.D. and Cauller, L.J. (2001). Corticocortical and thalamocortical projections to layer I of the frontal neocortex in rats. Brain Res. 921(1-2): 68-77.