Khaleel A. Razak
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Graduate Program
951-827-5060
Research Interests
Development of auditory and visual systems
Vocalization processing
Sound localization and echolocation behaviors
Visual motion processing
Development of the auditory system
How did this pallid bat localize the prey in its mouth, and how did it echolocate its surroundings while hunting this prey down?
How does the pallid bat's auditory system develop to localize prey and echolocate?
Current projects in the lab focus on the development of both sound localization and echolocation behaviors in the pallid bat. The pallid bat belongs to a small group of bats called gleaners. While hunting, it uses echolocation to avoid obstacles and passive sound localization to locate terrestrial prey. I seek to understand development of the mechanisms underlying echolocation and passive sound localization. Projects to investigate the development of ultrasonic call processing in mice are also being initiated to determine the relative contribution of genes and experience to vocalization representation in the cortex. More info and publication list
Development of the visual system
How does the visual system code for stimulus velocity and size?
How does developmental experience and brain trauma influence this coding?
A second line of research is clinical in nature and involves the development of the visual system following developmental traumatic brain injury. The model system is the hamster which is suited for this line of study because of an interesting type of developmental plasticity. The removal of the caudal half of the hamster superior colliculus at birth results in a complete remapping of the visual field in the remaining rostral half. I am interested in the role of inhibition in this recovery process. More info and publication list
Techniques
Single and array-electrode electrophysiology
Neuroanatomy
Behavioral analyses
Computational Neuroscience
Positions Available
Graduate students with an interest in taking an integrative approach to sensory systems development are welcome to join my research group either through the Graduate Program in Neuroscience or through the Department of Psychology.
I also strongly encourage undergraduate research in my lab.
Links of professional interest
International Society for Neuroethology (ISN)
Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO)
Deafness Research Foundation (DRF)
University of Wyoming - Neuroscience Program
Links to sites of personal interest
Cricinfo - Latest Cricket News
News from my hometown - Madras, India