The Wilbrecht Lab studies the neural basis of learning and decision making in the adolescent and adult brain. Current studies include studies of wild mice, autism risk genes, and models of mania. 

Cycle of adversity, dispersal

Developmental and experience-dependent changes in learning and decision making

The frontal regions of the neocortex show protracted development in mammals. While dendritic spines are pruned in the frontal neocortex in adolescence there is also late growth of new local and long range connections. We are interested in understanding the function of these changes and their impact on learning and decision making.

Project questions

How does experience in development alter the way the adult brain learns and makes decisions? Does experience with adversity in maternal care or food insecurity alter brain function? How does early learning experience with different statistics alter later circuit function? How does early life adversity enhance risk of substance use issues?

How does pubertal onset alter circuit function, learning and decision making?

How do cortico-basal ganglia circuits support learning and flexible decision making? How do genes x experience sculpt the computations made by these circuits.

How do different learning systems mature? How are these learning systems integrated through development? (with Anne Collins lab)

What changes in the brain support dispersal from the natal nest in rodents? Do we see any similar changes in humans and how does this inform our understanding of adolescent development?

We are also collaborating with the Markita Landry lab to develop new optical tools for neuroscience.

Approaches

Behavior

We use behavioral tests to investigate learning and decision making at different stages of development and in animals with different experiences. We are particularly interested in cognitive flexibility.

In Vivo Imaging

We use in vivo imaging methods to examine the function of specific cell types during behavior. We are particularly interested in the neurons that regulate learning and flexible updating of behavior in the neocortex and basal ganglia.

Electrophysiology

We use electrophysiology to investigate the changes in neurotransmission at different developmental stages and in rodents with different experience. We also use new optical tools to measure neuromodulator release in brain slice preparations.

Publications

73 entries « 4 of 4 »
13.

Holtmaat, A.; Wilbrecht, L.; Knott, G. W.; Welker, E.; Svoboda, K.

Experience-dependent and cell-type-specific spine growth in the neocortex Journal Article

In: Nature, vol. 441, no. 7096, pp. 979-83, 2006, ISSN: 0028-0836.

Links | BibTeX

12.

Knott, G. W.; Holtmaat, A.; Wilbrecht, L.; Welker, E.; Svoboda, K.

Spine growth precedes synapse formation in the adult neocortex in vivo Journal Article

In: Nature Neuroscience, vol. 9, no. 9, pp. 1117-24, 2006, ISSN: 1097-6256 (Print) 1097-6256.

Links | BibTeX

11.

Wilbrecht, L.; Williams, H.; Gangadhar, N.; Nottebohm, F.

High levels of new neuron addition persist when the sensitive period for song learning is experimentally prolonged Journal Article

In: J Neurosci, vol. 26, no. 36, pp. 9135-41, 2006, ISSN: 0270-6474.

Links | BibTeX

10.

Holtmaat, A. J.; Trachtenberg, J. T.; Wilbrecht, L.; Shepherd, G. M.; Zhang, X.; Knott, G. W.; Svoboda, K.

Transient and persistent dendritic spines in the neocortex in vivo Journal Article

In: Neuron, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 279-91, 2005, ISSN: 0896-6273 (Print) 0896-6273.

Links | BibTeX

9.

Wilbrecht, L.; Kirn, J. R.

Neuron addition and loss in the song system: regulation and function Journal Article

In: Ann N Y Acad Sci, vol. 1016, pp. 659-83, 2004, ISSN: 0077-8923 (Print) 0077-8923.

Links | BibTeX

8.

Wilbrecht, L.; Nottebohm, F.

Age and experience affect the recruitment of new neurons to the song system of zebra finches during the sensitive period for song learning: ditto for vocal learning in humans? Journal Article

In: Ann N Y Acad Sci, vol. 1021, pp. 404-9, 2004, ISSN: 0077-8923 (Print) 0077-8923.

Links | BibTeX

7.

Pytte, C. L.; Wilbrecht, L; Kirn, J. R.

Neuron addition and loss in the song system: Regulation and function Book Chapter

In: Zeigler, H. Philip; Marler, Peter (Ed.): Behavioral neurobiology of bird song, New York Academy of Sciences, New York, N.Y., 2004, ISBN: 1573314722 9781573314725 1573314730 9781573314732.

BibTeX

6.

Holtmaat, A. J.; Wilbrecht, L.; Karpova, A; Portera-Cailliau, C; Burbach, B; Trachtenberg, J. T.; Svoboda, K

Long-term, high-resolution imaging of neurons in the neocortex in vivo Book Chapter

In: Yuste, Rafael (Ed.): Imaging in neuroscience and development: a laboratory manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 2004.

BibTeX

5.

Wilbrecht, L.; Nottebohm, F.

Vocal learning in birds and humans Journal Article

In: Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 135-48, 2003, ISSN: 1080-4013 (Print) 1080-4013.

Links | BibTeX

4.

Wilbrecht, L.; Crionas, A.; Nottebohm, F.

Experience affects recruitment of new neurons but not adult neuron number Journal Article

In: J Neurosci, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 825-31, 2002, ISSN: 0270-6474.

BibTeX

3.

Wilbrecht, L.; Petersen, T.; Nottebohm, F.

Bilateral LMAN lesions cancel differences in HVC neuronal recruitment induced by unilateral syringeal denervation. Lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum Journal Article

In: J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol, vol. 188, no. 11-12, pp. 909-15, 2002, ISSN: 0340-7594 (Print) 0340-7594.

Links | BibTeX

2.

Bannerman, D. M.; Yee, B. K.; Lemaire, M.; Wilbrecht, L.; Jarrard, L.; Iversen, S. D.; Rawlins, J. N.; Good, M. A.

The role of the entorhinal cortex in two forms of spatial learning and memory Journal Article

In: Exp Brain Res, vol. 141, no. 3, pp. 281-303, 2001, ISSN: 0014-4819 (Print) 0014-4819.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

1.

Lin, W. C.; Delevich, K.; Wilbrecht, L.

A role for adaptive developmental plasticity in learning and decision making Journal Article

In: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 0000.

BibTeX

73 entries « 4 of 4 »

Lab News

  • Juliana Chase, PhD

    Congratulations to Juliana Chase, PhD on her recent graduation from the UC Berkeley Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Area PhD Program!

    more…

  • Hoshal & Okada Awards

    Undergraduate awards: Ben Hoshal won an MCB poster award and Nana Okada won a Psychology poster award. Congratulations to Ben and Nana!

    more…

  • New Paper by Piekarski & Boivin

    David Piekarski and Josiah Boivin have a new paper published in Current Biology that shows organizational effects of ovarian hormones on the maturation of inhibitory neurotransmission in the mouse frontal cortex during puberty.

    more…

Courses

Fall 2024
Hub: Psychology 22 “Neurons in Context” 
3 Units, Biological Sciences breadth
This course will introduce students to the basics of neurobiology while exploring how experience of adversity, enrichment, and other variables can shape brain development and behavior. We will survey the basic biology of neurons, mechanisms underlying experience dependent plasticity, hormones, and responses to different forms of stress and adversity. Students will spend time discussing how their knowledge of neurobiology can be integrated with their knowledge of history, sociology, and philosophy and how we can design new strategies to support the development of youth. Hub course taught with Scandinavian 75 and Philosophy 2
Instructor: Linda Wilbrecht 
Spring 2024
On sabbatical
Fall 2023
Psychology 22 – Neurons in Context
This will be a small course for freshman as part of the Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Society track in the new L&S Pathways program.

Psychology 114 – Biology of Learning
The biology of learning and neural plasticity is critical to our understanding of development, culture, behavioral change, the uniqueness of individuals, and limits to an organism’s potential. We will study experimental investigations of behavior and neurobiology at the cellular and circuit level to get a basic introduction to what is known and unknown about learning and neural plasticity. Topics may include associative learning, habit formation, fear, memory systems, neurons, synapses, dendritic spines and axonal boutons, LTP, and adult neurogenesis. We will discuss these topics in the context of normal development and disease. Format: Two hours of lecture per week and one discussion section.
Previous Courses at UC Berkeley
Psychology 194 – Honors Seminar
This course supports students in writing up their thesis research. We cover the scientific method, careers, ethics, rigor and reproducibility and work through writing all the sections of a thesis.

Public Health 290 – Behavior Change in Adolescence: A framework for integrating developmental neuroscience and public health
Instructors: Ron Dahl, Linda Wilbrecht, & Ahna Suleiman
This will be an innovative, interdisciplinary seminar using problem-based learning to explore the integration of public health and neuroscience building on the example of the unique opportunities for behavior change during the developmental period of adolescence – including a broad range of approaches to intervention, prevention, education, health, and well-being. The course will integrate several levels of understanding these unique opportunities: a) heuristic models of adolescent brain development (especially social, affective, and cognitive neuroscience approaches); b) models of behavior change that range from clinical psychology, education, and public health, to behavioral economics; and c) policy implications and opportunities to leverage behavior change to impact public health and well being.
Lung-HaoTai, PhDSenior Staff Scientist
Wan ChenLin, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
HongliWang, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
JulianaChase, PhDRecent PhD
MadelineKlinger, PhDRecent PhD
AlbertGraduate Student
SamanthaJacksonGraduate Student
BaileyO’DonnellUndergraduate Student
AlbertAderUndergraduate Student
JuliaSchultzUndergraduate Student
ClarissaRiosUndergraduate Student
Isabella TrejosUndergraduate Student
ShravanKannanUndergraduate Student
LilaPortisUndergraduate Student
ReemaRafifarUndergraduate Student
GabriellaSmithUndergraduate Student
CameronJordanUndergraduate Student
Yang ZhangUndergraduate Student
KatrinaWongRecent grad
KristenDelevichAssistant Professor, Washington State University
AzureGrant
DavidPiekarskiStanford Psychiatry
J. TravisDel Bonis-O’DonnellSenior Scientist at Quantapore
GeorgeProunisData Scientist at Redflag
Denise M.PiscopoThermoFisher Scientific
NataliaCaporaleCAMPOS Family Scholar and Lecturer at UC Davis
F. JavierMuñoz-CuevasUniversity of Maryland
JackiEssig
EzequielGalarceVP of R&D at United Health Group
CarolynJohnsonSage Pharmaceuticals
JosiahBoivinPostdoctoral Fellow, MIT
AngelaVandenbergAdjunct Faculty Bellingham College
A. MosesLeeFaculty in Psychiatry Dept UCSF Director OCD Clinic
KarenBerger
DanSchwartzUCSF/UCB Joint Medical Program
AromaDabasMS graduate student in Berlin School of Mind and Brain
NanaOkadaHarvard MD/PhD Program
NoahCrynsRA at UCSF Memory and Aging Center
Chris D.HallUniversity College London PhD Program
ChrisMachleUCLA Clinical Psychology Program
AishwaryaPattnaikMedical student USF Morsani School of Medicine
HannahPecklerUCSF Nursing Program; currently NP at One Medical
JegathAthilingamUCSF Graduate Program
TrishaVaidyanathanUCSF Graduate Program
NoraBeñavidezGraduate Student, USC
FernandaCastroSRA at UCSF
OliverKrentzmanGraduate Student, WUSTL
NiushaBhadavan
LexiZhouGraduate Student, Caltech
KenechukwuOkwuosa
SatyaVedulaStudent, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
JessicaWahlberg
BenjaminWing Hin Tang
CorrinaWong
YutingZhang
McGillUniversity
TahimaAchekzai
AmyZou
IreneChangMedical Student, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
BenHoshalGraduate student, Northwestern University
BeckyLee
MichelleMatvey
JennaMartin
AmeetRahane
WeihangChenGraduate student, WSU
LinneaSepe-Forest
AlagiaCirolia
MeiMurphy
ToryBenson
AnthonyDunnGraduate student, Dartmouth
HarrisonRamsayGraduate student, University of Colorado Anschutz
Annie Huang
Katrina Manaloto
CurieChiou
Alice ZichengZhang
Bret Holt
NicholasKeil