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Dr. Grau's research has focused on a number of topics, including
learning, pain modulation, and the recovery of function after
spinal cord injury. Studies on learning have explored the functional
limits of neural plasticity within the spinal cord, demonstrating
that this system can support some basic forms of learning (e.g.,
instrumental and Pavlovian conditioning). We have shown that stimuli
that engage pain fibers independent of a discrete response can
cause a loss in behavioral potential within the spinal cord and
that this effect undermines the recovery of function after spinal
cord injury. Pharmacological studies have examined the neurochemical
systems involved and have identified some drug therapies that
can help protect spinal cord neurons. In collaboration with Dr.
Rajesh Miranda (Medical Anatomy), current studies are exploring
the molecular mechanisms that underlie these effects. Dr. Grau
is a University Fellow and his research is supported by grants
from NIMH and NINDS. |
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Crown, E. D., & Grau, J. W. (2001). Preserving and restoring
behavioral potential within the spinal cord using an instrumental
training paradigm. Journal of Neurophysiolog, 86, 845-855.
Crown, E. D., Joynes, R. L., Ferguson, A. R., & Grau, J. W.
(2002). Instrumental learning within the spinal cord: IV. Induction
and retention of the behavioral deficit observed after noncontingent
shock. Behavioral Neuroscience, 116, 1032-1051.
Joynes, R. L., & Grau, J. W. (2004). Instrumental learning
with the spinal cord: III. Prior exposure to noncontingent shock
induces a behavioral deficit that is blocked by an opioid antagonist.
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.
Hook, M. A., Ferguson, A. R., Garcia, G., Washburn, S. N., Koehly,
L. M., & Grau, J. W. (2004). Monitoring recovery after injury:
Procedures for deriving the optimal test window. Neurotrauma.
Ferguson, A. R., Hook, M. A., Garcia, G., Bresnahan, J. C., Beattie,
M. S., & Grau, J. W. (submitted). A simple transformation
that improves the metric properties of the BBB scale. Neurotrauma. |
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NIMH Grant, “Spinal cord plasticity: Behavioral and neural
mechanisms”, 4/1/00-3/31/04, $646,416.
NINDS Grant, “Spinal cord plasticity and the recovery of
function”, 12/1/01-11/30/06, $1,961,450. |