UTSA Biology Faculty
Fidel Santamaria, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computation and Neural Systems
Office: BSB 1.03.20
Fidel.Santamaria@utsa.edu
Postdoctoral Researcher, Duke University Medical Center, 2001-2006
Ph. D. in Computation and Neural Systems. Caltech, 1995-2000
B. Sc. Physics. Mexico National University (UNAM). Mexico, 1989-1994
Lab Webpage: UTSA.edu/Santamarialab
Research Interests
Perhaps stating that neurons are a collection of molecules, structures, and ions might sound too obvious. However, how all these elements are arranged spatially and temporally to process relevant information, store memories, and execute complex tasks, that are essential to human survival, is still a mystery. My aim is to discover and understand the fundamental physical and chemical mechanisms that allow single neurons to perform such tasks.
An underlying question in most of my work is to understand how the structure of a neuron, that being the shape of a dendritic tree, a dendritic spine, or intracellular content, affects the electrical and biochemical signal processing in single neurons.
We use a two-prong approach to solve this problem. We use abstract and detailed computer models that might be electrophysiological, or biochemical, using differential equations or Monte Carlo methods. The models can be simple or complex, and are usually implemented in High Performance Computing platforms.
The other approach is the use of fluorescent microscopy in all shapes and forms. From traditional light fluorescence, confocal, two-photon, and more modern techniques, such as fluoresce correlation spectroscopy and single photon counting. Of course, we also study the electrophysiological properties of single cells.
I’m always looking for talented under/graduate students and postdocs. Contact me if you’re interested.
Recent Publications
F. Santamaria and S. Ragavachari. A biophysical model of the post-synaptic density (in preparation).
F. Santamaria, G. J. Augustine. Anomalous diffusion in Hippocampal pyramidal and Purkinje cells caused by spines and intracellular organelles. (in preparation).
F. Santamaria and J. M. Bower. Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience: Hodgkin-Huxley models. The New Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Elsevier, 2008 .
K. Tanaka, L. Kirough, F. Santamaria, T. Doi, H. Ogaswara, G. Ellis-Davies, M. Kawato, G. J. Augustine. Ca2+ requirements for cerebellar long-term synaptic depression: role for a postsynaptic leaky integrator. Neuron 54(5):787-800, June 2007.
F. Santamaria, P. Tripp and J. M. Bower. Molecular interneuron feed forward inhibition controls the spread of granule cell activity in the cerebellar cortex. J. Neurophys., 97(1):248-63. January 2007
F. Santamaria, S. Wils, E. De Schutter, G. J. Augustine. Anomalous diffusion in Purkinje cell dendrites caused by spines. Neuron 52(4):635-648, November 2006
F. Santamaria and J. M. Bower. Background synaptic activity modulates the response of a modeled Purkinje cell to paired afferent input. J Neurophysiol 93: 237-250 (2005).
G. J. Augustine, F. Santamaria, K. Yamamoto. Local calcium signaling in neurons. Neuron 20(2):331-346, October 2003.
F. Santamaria, D. Jaeger, E. De Schutter and J. M. Bower. Modulatory effects of parallel fibers and molecular layer interneuron synaptic activity on the Purkinje cell responses to ascending segment input: A modeling study. J. of Comp. Neurosc., 13(3):217-35, November 2002.
O. D. Mocanu, J. Oliver, F. Santamaria and J. M. Bower. Branching point effects on the passive properties of the cerebellar granule cell. Neurocomputing 32-33:207-212, 2000.
P. Marsalek and F. Santamaria. Investigating spike backpropagation induced Ca2+ influx in models of hippocampal and cortical pyramidal neurons. BioSystems 48:147-156, 1998.
