John G. McHaffie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University (1984)

The brain is composed of a host of different regions, each seemingly devoted to specific functions. Yet, in order to produce even relatively 'simple' behaviors, like noticing a bird flying across the evening sky, requires the coordinated activity of many structures through complex neural networks. In an effort to determine how the interplay of multiple brain regions leads to adaptive behaviors, our laboratory is currently focused on understanding the neuroanatomical and physiological relationships among the cortex, midbrain superior colliculus, and the basal ganglia. Our long term goal is to facilitate the development of therapies for ameliorating sensory neglect in patients, much like manipulations of the basal ganglia are currently being used to treat motor dysfunctions associated with Parkinson's Disease.

Selected Publications:
McHaffie JG, TR Stanford, BE Stein, V Coizet and P Redgrave (2005) Subcortical loops through the basal ganglia?  Trends Neurosci. 28(8): 401-407.

Koyama T, J McHaffie, P Laurienti, and R Coghill  (2005) The subjective experience of pain: Where expectations become reality.  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 102: 12950-12955.

Jiang H, BE Stein, and JG McHaffie (2003) Opposing basal ganglia processes shape midbrain visuomotor activity bilaterally. Nature 423: 982-986.

Coghill RC, JG McHaffie, YF Yen (2003) Neural correlates of interindividual differences in the subjective experience of pain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (in press).

McHaffie JG, S Wang, N Walton, BE Stein, and P Redgrave (2002) Covariant maturation of nocifensive oral behaviour and c-fos expression in rat superior colliculus. Neuroscience 109:597-607.

Niida T, BE Stein and JG McHaffie (1997) Response properties of corticotectal and corticostriatal neurons in the posterior lateral suprasylvian cortex of the cat. J Neurosci, 17(21): 8550-8565.

Redgrave P, JG McHaffie and BE Stein (1996) Nociceptive neurons in rat superior colliculus I: Antidromic activation from the contralateral predorsal bundle. Exp Brain Res, 109: 185-196.

Redgrave P, M Simkins, JG McHaffie and BE Stein (1996) Nociceptive neurons in rat superior colliculus II: Effects of lesions to contralateral descending output pathway on nocifensive behaviors.Exp Brain Res, 109: 197-208.

E-mail: mchaffie@wfubmc.edu