Sharmila Venugopal
B.S. in Engineering, Bangalore University
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, The Ohio State University
Thesis Advisors: Joseph B. Travers and David Terman
E-Mail: venugopal.7@osu.edu
Research:
My research interests include experimental and computational neuroscience. My master’s thesis entailed design and development of Field Programmable Gate Array-based hardware module for linear and non-linear filters for 3D medical images. While I was working towards my Masters, I associated myself with several neuroscientists at the Ohio State University, which triggered my interest in Neuroscience research.
My current research involves understanding the cellular and synaptic mechanisms of a Central Pattern Generator orchestration a critical function of the taste system. This includes the ability of an organism to discriminate between palatable and bitter (often toxic) substances and the Central Pattern Generator under study elicits ingestion (licking) and rejection (gaping) oromotor responses to appropriate taste-stimuli. I use mathematical modeling and dynamical systems methods to test hypotheses and predict mechanisms underlying motor pattern switching from licks to gapes. I am also gearing towards conducting whole-cell patch clamp studies to characterize the intrinsic and synaptic properties of the pre-oromotor neurons driving these two behaviors. My long-term goal is to apply methods derived from engineering and mathematics to study neuroscience and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Publications:
Venugopal S, Travers JB, and Terman DH (2007) A computational model for motor pattern switching between taste-induced ingestion and rejection oromotor behaviors. J Comput Neurosci. 22(2):223-38.
S. Venugopal, C. R. Castro-Pareja, O. Dandekar, (2004) An FPGA-based 3D image processor with median and convolution filters for real-time applications. Proceedings of International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE).
Presentations at National Meetings:
JB Travers, J Nasse, R Rogers, S Venugopal, DH Terman, , “In vitro evidence of a computational model for switching between ingestion and rejection”, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (2008), Paris, France.
S. Venugopal, D. H. Terman, J. B. Travers, “A computational model for a central pattern generator driving taste-induced ingestion and rejection oromotor behaviors”, Society for Neuroscience, Oct 2006, Atlanta, GA
J. I Broussard, S. Venugopal, M. Sarter, B. Givens, “Cholinergic modulation of posterior parietal neuronal activity associated with the detection of signals in attentional task-performing rats.” Society for Neuroscience, Oct 2006, Atlanta, GA
D. Terman, S. Venugopal, J. B. Travers, “A computational model for motor pattern switching in a central pattern generator”, Conference on Mathematical Neuroscience (NEUROMATH06), Sept 2006, Andorra, Spain
S. Venugopal, J. B. Travers, D. Terman, “A computational model for motor pattern switching between taste-induced ingestion and rejection oromotor behaviors”, Joint Annual Meeting for Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and Society for Mathematical Biology - Life Sciences Group, Aug 2006, Raleigh, NC
L. M. Pyter, G. Q. Butcher, E. E. Congdon, M. R. Detloff, K. F. Ghai, S. Venugopal, J. C. Bresnahan, M. S. Beattie, “Mapping neuroscience at The Ohio State University: Graphic representations of program and individual scientific breadth and depth in association”, Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Nov 2005, Washington, DC
G. Q. Butcher, M. R. Detloff, K. Ghai, E. L. Hoschouer, L. M. Pyter, S. Venugopal, G.A. Bishop, “Neuroscience Education: Urban and Rural Outreach (NEURO)”, Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Nov 2005, Washington, DC
S Venugopal, C R Castro-Pareja, O Dandekar, “An FPGA-based 3D image processor with median and convolution filters for real-time applications” Proceedings of International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) 2004
C R Castro-Pareja, J M Jagadeesh, S Venugopal, R Shekar, “FPGA-based 3D median filtering using word-parallel systolic arrays” IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS) 2004
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