Dr. Dylan Cooke
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California, Davis,
Center for Neuroscience
1544 Newton Court
Davis, CA 95618
Tel: 530.754.7569
Fax: 530.757.8827
dfcooke at ucdavis dot edu

c.v.

publications

California ground squirrel

Ph. D., Princeton University , Psychology and Neuroscience, 2005 in the laboratory of Michael Graziano
A.B., Princeton University , Psychology magna cum laude, 1999

MAIN RESEARCH INTERESTS:

I am interested in the common organizing principles of motor cortex in mammals. Before joining the Krubitzer lab, I studied monkey motor cortex, and in particular, the representation of complex movements like eating and defensive flinching. Currently I am studying the organization of motor cortex in squirrels and raccoons. By comparing my findings in these animals to motor organization in monkeys and other mammals, I hope to improve the understanding of the evolution of motor cortex.

Tangential section of squirrel cortex (left is rostral, up is medial) processed for myelin. Cortical field borders are based on myeloarchitecture.

Example of a complex movement evoked by electrical microstimulation of squirrel motor cortex.

This 1-s stimulation train evoked simultaneous movements of the jaw and both hands.