Paivi Torkkeli
Professor
Email: paivi.torkkeli@dal.ca
Phone: 902-494-2672
Mailing Address:
3C, Tupper Building, 5580 College Street, PO Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4R2
Research Topics:- Neuroscience
- Sensory physiology
- Synaptic physiology
- Mechanotransduction
- Olfaction
- Vision
- Ion channel
- Neurotransmitters
Education
- BSc (University of Oulu, Finland)
- MSc (University of Oulu, Finland)
- Licentiate of Science (University of Oulu, Finland)
- PhD (University of Alberta)
Research interests
Our research focuses on molecular and cellular mechanisms of mechanosensory transduction. We aim to discover molecules that detect mechanical stimuli and to learn how sensory signals are modulateed by synapses and transmitted to the CNS. We also work on vision and olfaction. We use a variety of advanced biophysical, electrophysiological, imaging and molecular techniques.
Selected publications
- French A.S., Meisner S., Su C.-Y. & Torkkeli P.H. 2014: CO2 and fruit odor transduction in Drosophila olfactory neurons. What controls their dynamic properties? PLOS One 9(1):e86347 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.008634
- Torkkeli P.H., Meisner S., Pfeiffer K. & French A.S. 2012: GABA and glutamate receptors have different effects on excitability and are differentially regulated by calcium in spider mechanosensory neurons. Eur. J. Neurosci. 36: 3602-3614.
- Torkkeli P.H., Panek I. & Meisner S. 2011: Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II mediates the octopamine-induced increase in sensitivity in spider VS‑3 mechanosensory neurons. Eur. J. Neurosci. 33: 1186-1196.
- French A.S., Torkkeli P.H. & Schuckel J. 2011: Dynamic characterization of Drosophila antennal olfactory neurons indicates multiple opponent signalling pathways in odor discrimination. J. Neurosci.31: 861-869.
- Pfeiffer K., Panek I., Höger U., French A.S. & Torkkeli P.H 2009: Random stimulation of spider mechanosensory neurons reveals long-lasting excitation by GABA and muscimol. J. Neurophysiol. 101:54-66.