Washington University in St Louis · NeuroscienceBagnall Locomotion Lab
Martha W Bagnall · Saint Louis, Missouri
Research Focus
Martha W Bagnall's lab focuses on understanding how neuromodulators like dopamine and serotonin influence movement in zebrafish. By utilizing advanced imaging techniques and genetic tools, the lab explores how these chemicals affect spinal cord circuits to control locomotion during different behaviors. This research aims to uncover the mechanisms behind neuromodulatory action and its significance in motor control.
neuromodulatorsdopamineserotoninlocomotionzebrafishspinal cord
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of dopamine and serotonin in spinal cord circuits during locomotion.
AIM 02Measure the release of neuromodulators during different locomotor behaviors.
AIM 03Disambiguate spinal and supraspinal effects of neuromodulatory actions.
AIM 04Use chemogenetic methods to block receptor activity in motor neurons and assess movement changes.
AIM 05Develop computational models to predict neuromodulatory influence on behavior.
Skills the Lab Values
imaging techniquesgenetic manipulationelectrophysiologymotor neuron studiesbehavioral assayscomputational modelingtargeted axotomychemogeneticspharmacological interventionsdata analysis
Output against the department
Publications45bottom 9% of dept.608th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.0kbottom 12% of dept.588th of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.