The Whelan Lab

Our work centres on understanding the mechanisms that contribute to motor control. Our work is relevant to  many medical conditions where gait is affected including Fragile X Syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke. We know that rehabilitation can induce plasticity in neural circuits at the level of the spinal cord and brain. We are interested in understanding the structure and function of brain circuits and the activity patterns of motor networks in the spinal cord. We also are interested in manipulating brain circuits and finding new ways to alleviate motor deficits. Gait rehabilitation represents a major area of brain  dysfunction that greatly impacts the quality of life for those afflicted.

Dopamine | Fragile X Syndrome | Parkinson's Disease | Spinal Cord Injury

Our lab makes use of a cells to systems approach to study:

1. Descending modulation of motor behaviour in freely-behaving mice
2. Connectivity between brain regions involved in motor control
3. Modulation of spinal networks and cellular properties generating rhythmic motor activity during development
4. Contribution of descending modulatory pathways during movement disorders and recovery following spinal cord injury