Neuroscientists Talk Shop

On October 15, 2026 we spoke with Dr. Edward Bartlett about how the auditory system detects and encodes rapid changes in sound amplitude essential for the detection of speech sounds. He explained the temporal sensitivity of single neurons in the upper brainstem auditory structures, the inferior colliculus and thalamus, which are essential for this process.Guest:Edward Bartlett, Professor of Professor of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Purdue UniversityParticipating:Marina Silveira, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioRosy Carrasco, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioHost:Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioThanks to James Tepper for original music

On October 8, 2026 we met with Dr. Camillo Padoa-Schioppa to learn how subjective value is represented in the brain and directs how animals and humans choose among goal options.Guest:Camillo Padoa-Schioppa, Professor of Neuroscience at Washington University in Saint LouisParticipating:Alice Bertero, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioHost:Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioThanks to James Tepper for original music

On September 17, 2026 we spoke with Dr. Michele Guigliano about the differences between neurons in the human cerebral cortex and those of rodents. We discussed the possibility that those differences may contribute to the unique intellectual capacity of humans.Guest:Michele Guigliano, PhD, Associate Professor Department of Biomedical, Metabolic & Neural Sciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia and Associate Professor of Physiology SISSA in TriesteParticipating:Fidel Santamaria, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioHost:Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioThanks to James Tepper for original music

On September 10, 2026 we talked with Dr. Melissa Caras on the neurophysiology underlying perceptual learning in the auditory cortex. She defined perceptual learning, explained how it can be measured in animals, and described the changes in neuronal activity auditory cortex neurons associated with learning.Guest:Melissa Caras, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of MarylandParticipating:Alice Bertero, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioAlfonso Apicella, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioHost:Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioThanks to James Tepper for original music

On September 3, 2026 I met with UTSA colleague Dr. Matt Wanat to discuss the role of dopamine in performance and learning of motivated behavior. Matt explained why it is difficult to make a simple general description of dopamine function.Guest: Matt Wanat, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioHost:Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioThanks to James Tepper for original music