Skip to main content

Main navigation

  • About BCS
    • Mission
    • History
    • Building 46
      • Building 46 Room Reservations
    • Leadership
    • Employment
    • Contact
      • BCS Spot Awards
      • Building 46 Email and Slack
    • Directory
  • Faculty + Research
    • Faculty
    • Areas of Research
    • Postdoctoral Research
      • Postdoctoral Association and Committees
    • Core Facilities
    • InBrain
      • InBRAIN Collaboration Data Sharing Policy
  • Academics
    • Course 9: Brain and Cognitive Sciences
    • Course 6-9: Computation and Cognition
      • Course 6-9 MEng
    • Brain and Cognitive Sciences PhD
      • How to Apply
      • Program Details
      • Classes
      • Research
      • Student Life
      • For Current Students
    • Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Program
      • How to Apply to MCN
      • MCN Faculty and Research Areas
      • MCN Curriculum
      • Model Systems
      • MCN Events
      • MCN FAQ
      • MCN Contacts
    • Computationally-Enabled Integrative Neuroscience Program
    • Research Scholars Program
    • Course Offerings
  • News + Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Recordings
    • Newsletter
  • Community + Culture
    • Community + Culture
    • Community Stories
    • Outreach
      • MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP)
      • Post-Baccalaureate Research Scholars
      • Conferences, Outreach and Networking Opportunities
    • Get Involved (MIT login required)
    • Resources (MIT login Required)
    • Upcoming Events
  • Give to BCS
    • Join the Champions of the Brain Fellows Society
    • Meet Our Donors

Utility Menu

  • Directory
  • Apply to BCS
  • Contact Us

Footer

  • Contact Us
  • Employment
  • Be a Test Subject
  • Login

Footer 2

  • McGovern
  • Picower

Utility Menu

  • Directory
  • Apply to BCS
  • Contact Us
Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Menu
MIT

Main navigation

  • About BCS
    • Mission
    • History
    • Building 46
    • Leadership
    • Employment
    • Contact
    • Directory
  • Faculty + Research
    • Faculty
    • Areas of Research
    • Postdoctoral Research
    • Core Facilities
    • InBrain
  • Academics
    • Course 9: Brain and Cognitive Sciences
    • Course 6-9: Computation and Cognition
    • Brain and Cognitive Sciences PhD
    • Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Program
    • Computationally-Enabled Integrative Neuroscience Program
    • Research Scholars Program
    • Course Offerings
  • News + Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Recordings
    • Newsletter
  • Community + Culture
    • Community + Culture
    • Community Stories
    • Outreach
    • Get Involved (MIT login required)
    • Resources (MIT login Required)
    • Upcoming Events
  • Give to BCS
    • Join the Champions of the Brain Fellows Society
    • Meet Our Donors

Events

News Menu

  • News
  • Events
  • Newsletters

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Events
  3. NeuroLunch: Giselle Fernandes (Sur Lab) & Sabrina Drammis (TDS and Graybiel Lab)
NeuroLunch: Giselle Fernandes (Sur Lab) & Sabrina Drammis (TDS and Graybiel Lab)
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)

NeuroLunch: Giselle Fernandes (Sur Lab) & Sabrina Drammis (TDS and Graybiel Lab)

Add to CalendarAmerica/New_YorkNeuroLunch: Giselle Fernandes (Sur Lab) & Sabrina Drammis (TDS and Graybiel Lab)05/19/2025 12:00 pm05/19/2025 1:00 pmBuilding 46,3310
May 19, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location
Building 46,3310
    Description

    Speaker: Giselle Fernandes (Sur Lab)

    Title: The role of altered neuromodulation in motor dysfunction in Rett Syndrom

    Abstract: Rett Syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MeCP2 gene. One of the most devastating symptoms of Rett Syndrome is the disruption of motor function. Patients lose purposeful use of their hands and develop repetitive movements, rigidity, and dystonia. The primary motor cortex, crucial for movement and learning, is modulated by norepinephrine from the Locus Coeruleus (LC), where phasic activity enhances motor learning. While MeCP2 loss reduces global norepinephrine, its impact on LC activity and motor function remains unclear. Using a cued lever-press task, we found that MeCP2 deficiency in the LC impairs task-specific axonal activity and norepinephrine release, abolishing reinforcement signals and consequently delaying motor learning. In addition, wildtype mice developed a stereotypical trajectory of their motor movements (i.e. lever presses) across the training period, with a decrease in both the variability and jerk of their lever presses. However, LC-MeCP2-deficient mice failed to refine the accuracy and reproducibility of their lever movements. This indicates a role for LC-MeCP2 in both the accuracy of behavioral performance as well as the execution of goal-driven, reproducible motor movements. Finally, in vivo two-photon calcium imaging revealed disrupted population activity of neurons in the motor cortex, highlighting the role of LC-MeCP2 in motor control and its dysfunction in Rett Syndrome. These findings elucidate a role for the norepinephrine system in the development of motor control and extend our understanding of the neuromodulatory systems that underlie motor dysfunction in Rett Syndrome.

    Speaker: Sabrina Drammis (TDS and Graybiel Lab)

    Title: TBD

    Abstract: TBD

    Upcoming Events

    Jun
    Wed
    11
    McGovern Institute for Brain Research

    ODIN@McGovern Workshop

    9:30am to 5:00pm
    Add to CalendarAmerica/New_YorkODIN@McGovern Workshop 06/11/2025 9:30 am06/11/2025 5:00 pmBuilding 46,3189
    Jun
    Fri
    13
    McGovern Institute for Brain Research

    Symposium Series on Emerging Model Organisms with Tessa Montague

    4:00pm to 5:00pm
    Add to CalendarAmerica/New_YorkSymposium Series on Emerging Model Organisms with Tessa Montague06/13/2025 4:00 pm06/13/2025 5:00 pmBuilding 46,3189
    See All Events
    Don't miss our next newsletter!
    Sign Up

    Footer menu

    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • Be a Test Subject
    • Login

    Footer 2

    • McGovern
    • Picower
    Brain and Cognitive Sciences

    MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 46-2005

    Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 | (617) 253-5748

    For Emergencies | Accessibility

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology