Research areas
My research uses young frog tadpoles as a simple model system to study the basic neuronal mechanisms underlying motor control. Apart from basic motor reflexes, tadpoles can swim forward when touched and struggle when held, with both behaviour powered by axial muscles. They also exhibit some acute, concussion-like response when swim into solid objects. The tadpole spinal cord and hindbrain are simple and highly accessible for recordings, making it an ideal place to investigate rules that may be common to the movements of different animal species. I’m also interested in how these mechanisms mature during neural development. Our research methods include electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, mRNA microinjections, anatomy and computer modelling.
General information on tadpoles
Lab members
Yi Lou PhD student funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council and the University of St Andrews.
Valentina Saccomanno PhD student co-supervised with Dr Maarten Zwart
Dr Hong-Yan Zhang Postdoctoral research fellow funded by BBSRC.
Opportunities
PhD positions: I always welcome inquiries from students with genuine research interests on potential PhD projects, which can be on either motor control or developmental plasticity. You should hold or expect to hold at least an upper second first degree in neuroscience or related subjects.
China Scholarship Council and University of St Andrews Scholarships This is suitable for students of Chinese nationality in the last year of your BSc or MSc study. The deadline of which is usually January every year. Therefore you need to contact me well in advance to discuss potential projects for your application.
Former lab members
Nicola Porter: PhD student funded by BBSRC.
Dr Peter Moult: postdoctoral research fellow funded by Wellcome Trust.
Dr Erik Svensson: postdoctoral research fellow funded by BBSRC.
Monica Wagner: research assistant funded by BBSRC.
Dr Shiv Kumar Postdoctoral research fellow funded by BBSRC.
Giulia Messa co-supervised PhD student from Dr Stella Koutsikou's lab in the University of Kent.
Collaborators
Dr Steve Soffe and Prof Alan Roberts at the University of Bristol
Prof Roman Borisyuk at Plymouth University
Dr Joel Tabak-Sznajder in the University of Exeter
Prof Keith Sillar at the University of St Andrews
Dr Xinhua Shu: at Glasgow caledonian University
PhD supervision
- Yi Lou
- Valentina Saccomanno
Selected publications
-
Open access
Mechanisms underlying the recruitment of inhibitory interneurons in fictive swimming in developing Xenopus laevis tadpoles
Ferrario, A., Saccomanno, V., Zhang, H-Y., Borisyuk, R. & Li, W-C., 22 Feb 2023, In: The Journal of Neuroscience. 43, 8, p. 1387-1404 18 p., JN-RM-0520-22.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Open access
Ventx family and its functional similarities with Nanog: involvement in embryonic development and cancer progression
Kumar, S., Kumar, V., Li, W. & Kim, J., 1 Mar 2022, In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23, 5, 26 p., 2741.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
-
Open access
From decision to action: detailed modelling of frog tadpoles reveals neuronal mechanisms of decision-making and reproduces unpredictable swimming movements in response to sensory signals
Ferrario, A., Palyanov, A., Koutsikou, S., Li, W., Soffe, S., Roberts, A. & Borisyuk, R., 13 Dec 2021, In: PLoS Computational Biology. 17, 12, 41 p., e1009654.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Open access
Making in situ whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from Xenopus laevis tadpole neurons
Li, W-C., 3 Feb 2021, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Open access
The early development and physiology of Xenopus laevis tadpole lateral line system
Saccomanno, V., Love, H. M., Sylvester, A. L. & Li, W-C., 17 Nov 2021, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 126, 5, p. 1814-1830 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Neural control of swimming in hatchling Xenopus frog tadpoles
Sillar, K. T. & Li, W. C., 14 Aug 2020, (E-pub ahead of print) The Neural Control of Movement: Model Systems and Tools to Study Locomotor Function. Whelan, P. J. & Sharples, S. A. (eds.). Elsevier, p. 153-174 22 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
-
Open access
Stimulation of single, possible CHX10 hindbrain neurons turns swimming on and off in young Xenopus tadpoles
Li, W-C. & Soffe, S., 18 Feb 2019, In: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 13, 12 p., 47.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Open access
The decision to move: response times, neuronal circuits and sensory memory in a simple vertebrate
Roberts, A., Borisyuk, R., Buhl, E., Ferrario, A., Koutsikou, S., Li, W-C. & Soffe, S. R., Mar 2019, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 286, 1899, 7 p., 20190297.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
-
Open access
The neuronal mechanisms underlying locomotion termination
Ritson, E. J. & Li, W-C., Apr 2019, In: Current Opinion in Physiology. 8, p. 109-115 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
-
Open access
A simple decision to move in response to touch reveals basic sensory memory and mechanisms for variable response times
Koutsikou, S., Merrison-Hort, R., Buhl, E., Ferrario, A., Li, W-C., Borisyuk, R., Soffe, S. R. & Roberts, A., 15 Dec 2018, In: The Journal of Physiology. 596, 24, p. 6219-6233Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review