Hi all, as this is my first blog post I’m going to give a quick intro into what I’m studying. Currently I am working with Will Debello in an effort to map the brain of owls at the scale of neurons as well as research the owls brain at the section for hearing.
The building where owls live
I arrived in Davis on the 8th and started my work Saturday the 10th. The first day of work Will took me to the aviaries to see the owls used in the study. Will then explained how metal is attached to the owls head in a non-invasive procedure to help with the scanning of the owls brain.
Later in the day I was taken to the lab to see how the owl brains are scanned. The lab is a small space filled with all types of research tools, from Electron Microscopes to beakers of chemicals to giant computers.
Soundproof testing room
This is where all of the experiments take place. Will explains they use a process called stimulus presentation data acquisition which is exactly what is sounds like. A stimulus is presented to the owls, either a flash of light or a sound, and their brain is scanned for activity. A graph is created comparing the owls brain activity and where the stimulus was located. During the experiment the owls are put in a small, soundproof room during the experiment.
Later in the week I got into the meat of what I’ll be doing during my internship. Porter, the grad student helping with the study, showed my how to use Imod. Imod is a computer program that is used to reconstruct parts of the neurocircuitry of the brain. Currently I am working on reconstruction toric spine number 1. Toric spines
Reconstructed toric spine
are dendrites that were recently discovered in the brain of barn owls. The reconstruction of a toric spines and other neurocircuitry is a very time consuming process. Using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy the owls brain is photographed in 15 nm slices. My job is to then look through the slices to find and trace the toric spine. After 4 hours I was able to fully reconstruct the spine. Now I’ve moved on and am working to locate and label any synapses that are present on the toric spine.
On the weekends I have the incredible opportunity to go up the the American river and learn how to kayak with my friend Mel. While at the river I also help guide river trips with the Environmental Traveling Company or ETC. ETC makes rafting and the river accessible to many different groups of people including disabled folks and underprivileged youth. The groups
The river
I helped with included TLC youth and the River Runners veteran group. When I’m not at ETC or doing my internship my incredible host family, the Newell’s, have taking me out all over Davis. I’ve been to art galleries, nail salons, and all over downtown. I also had the awesome opportunity to get a full tour of Campus from our family friend Zach. I saw all of the buildings, sports centers, and the beautiful arboretum.
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