Synapses in the central nervous system undergo bidirectional changes in synaptic strength, a process called synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity allows neurons to communicate and change their connections as a function of past experiences. Changes in synaptic strength form the cellular basis of learning and memory. By adjusting synaptic strengths, the nervous system can remodel itself, giving rise to durable memories that create the biological basis for mental function. In healthy individuals, synaptic plasticity undergoes characteristic developmental and aging trajectories.
The Gerber Lab studies dysfunctional plasticity, which underlies a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder that affects 20 million people worldwide and is among the most burdensome of all health problems, with enormous implications for individual health, quality of life, and societal costs. In our lab, we use cell culture and animal models to investigate functional consequences of genetic variants associated with schizophrenia with the prospect of translatable implications for understanding disease mechanism and improving treatment.
The Gerber Lab supports and welcomes learners of all backgrounds. We believe in cultivating an open-minded curiosity about our world and that this requires us to understand how our perceptions and biases shape our perspectives. We are committed to building a laboratory and training environment that is diverse and inclusive – to welcome, and collectively benefit from, unique perspectives on both science and life.