Takano Laboratory Research Overview

We study cellular and circuit mechanisms of seizure initiation and termination in models of temporal lobe epilepsy using in vitro dynamic cellular imaging such as calcium and chloride imaging.

We integrated a virtual reality (VR) navigation system with an in vivo two-photon microscopy setup to conduct multi-cellular calcium imaging of hippocampal neurons. We collect data as an animal model navigates a VR linear track, then develop image and data analysis algorithms to analyze calcium transients and place cells.

Our lab team combined the intrahippocampal kainate (IHK) model of temporal lobe epilepsy with optogenetic stimulation of hippocampal neurons to demonstrate that a brief illumination of blue light can trigger convulsive seizures that are electrographically and behaviorally identical to spontaneous seizures. We have shown that this method can rapidly screen anti-epileptic drugs.

We monitored acute cortical seizures with graphene microelectrode technology and developed a cannula graphene assembly for recording and imaging seizures in deeper brain structures.