Our laboratory

In the Laboratory we study the neurobiological mechanisms that produce sensitization of the nociceptive system and pain. We are especially interested in chronic pain and its common symptoms. In the last years the group has focused on the study of the mechanisms that govern the excitability of neurons of the nociceptive system. We are currently implicated in the study of the structure and function of the spinal circuits that generate depolarization of primary afferents. The group has a special interest in detecting changes in the expression/function of ion channels after peripheral lesions and how these changes can alter the activity in spinal circuits. 

Our studies implicate the use of in vitro preparations of the spinal cord of mice and electrophysiological recordings of neuronal activity in combination with pharmacological approaches. Our technologies include voltage-clamp and current-clamp recordings, intracellular recordings with sharp electrodes, and extracellular recordings with multielectrodes and suction electrodes. We are currently developing the use of optogenetic procedures to manipulate specific populations of neurons and improve our capacity to understand and interact with the function of the spinal circuits. In addition we complement our work with several models of pathological pain, behavioural assays and histological techniques.

In the last years we have also developed analysis tools based on artificial intelligence algorithms to reveal functional connections between neurons from the spike trains obtained with electrode arrays and applying these tools to study neural circuits involved in the modulation of transmission from primary afferents to neurons.