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Neurobiology and Anatomy

 

Barry E. Stein, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
City University of New York (1971)

Our objective is to understand the neural basis by which the brain is able to integrate information from multiple senses. This process of multisensory integration is highly adaptive. It knits together information from different channels to allow the brain to amplify minimal signals and reduce ambiguity when detecting, identifying and reacting to environmental events. It is also critical to our seamless perceptual experiences. One practical objective has been to understand how the physiological properties of individual multisensory neurons, and networks of neurons, contribute to these functions. In trying to accomplish our overall aim of understanding the relationship between cellular processes and perception and behavior, we use multidisciplinary anatomical, physiological, behavioral and perceptual approaches. Our lab group has also had a longstanding interest in how the brain develops the capacity to synthesize information from different senses and, specifically, how early sensory experiences craft the circuits underlying multisensory integration to ensure that the resultant product is well adapted to the environment. 

Selected Publications:

Jiang, H., Stein, B.E, and McHaffie, J.G. Opposing basal ganglia processes shape midbrain visuomotor activity bilaterally. Nature 423: 982-986, 2003.

Wallace, M.T., Ramachandran, R. and Stein, B.E. A new view of sensory cortical parcellation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 101(7): 2167-2172, 2004.

Wallace, M.T., Perrault, T.P., Hairston, W.D. and Stein, B.E. Visual experience is necessary for the development of multisensory integration. J. Neurosci. 24: 9580-9584, 2004.

Stein, B.E.  The development of a dialogue between cortex and midbrain to integrate multisensory information.  Exp. Brain Res. 166: 305-315, 2005.

Stanford, T.R., Quessy, S., and Stein, B.E.  Evaluating the operations underlying multisensory integration in cat superior colliculus.  J. Neurosci.  25(28): 6499-6508, 2005.

 

Alvarado, J.C., Vaughan, J.W., Stanford, T.R., and Stein, B.E.  Multisensory versus unisensory integration: contrasting modes in the superior colliculus.  J. Neurophysiol. 97: 3193-3205, 2007.

 

Rowland, B.A., Quessy, S., Stanford, T.R., and Stein, B.E.  Multisensory integration shortens physiological response latencies.  J. Neurosci. 27: 5879-5884, 2007.

 

Jiang, W., Jiang, H., Rowland, B.A., and Stein, B.E.  Multisensory orientation behavior is disrupted by neonatal cortical ablation.  J. Neurophysiol. 97(1): 557-562, 2007.

 

Rowland, B.A., Stanford, T.R., and Stein, B.E.  A model of the neural mechanisms underlying multisensory integration in the superior colliculus.  Perception [Special Issue on Multisensory Integration] 36: 1431-1443, 2007.

 

Alvarado, J.C., Stanford, T.R., Vaughan, J.W., and Stein, B.E.  Cortex mediates multisensory but not unisensory integration in superior colliculus.  J. Neurosci. 27(47): 12775-12786, 2007.

 

Rowland, B.A. and Stein, B.E.  Multisensory integration produces an initial response enhancement.  Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 1(4): 1-8, 2007.

 

Stein, B.E. and Stanford, T.R.  Multisensory integration: current issues from the perspective of the single neuron.  Nature Rev. Neurosci. 9(4): 255-266, 2008.

 

Gingras, G., Rowland, B.A., and Stein, B.E. The differing impact of multisensory and unisensory integration on behavior.  J. Neurosci.  29(15): 4897-4902, 2009.

 

Alvarado, J.C., Stanford, T.R., Rowland, B.A., Vaughan, J.W., and Stein, B.E.  Multisensory integration in the superior collicullus requires synergy among cortico-collicular inputs.  J. Neurosci. (In Press), 2009.

 

 

E-mail: bestein@wfubmc.edu

View Dr. Stein's extended web site