Research Project in the lab:
Jennifer is studying the interaction between excitatory and inhibitory inputs to an auditory brainstem nucleus, the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), using both in-vitro and in-vivo electrophysiology. The relative strength between these two types of inputs changes dynamically from one moment to the next during the processing of incoming auditory information, and determines the computational output of the neuron at that moment.
Jennifer is also interested in changes of fast inhibition in the auditory system during the aging process. Understanding these changes will help develop treatments for a certain type of age-related hearing loss, the inability to follow a conversation in a crowded environment where many background noises are present.
Education:
PhD, Neuroscience – University of Colorado Denver, 2011
BS, Neuroscience – Regis University, 2007
Honors / Awards
Society for Neuroscience Graduate Student Travel Award 2011
CURFA Carl Kisslinger Award, Excellence in Research 2010
Assoc. for Research in Oto. Grad. Student Travel Award 2010
Basic Neuroscience Advanced Training (BNAT) Grant 2009
Poster Award: 1st Place, Rocky Mtn. Regional Neurosci. Group Meeting 2009
Dean’s List, Regis University 2004-2006
Blue and Gold Scholarship, Regis University 2003-2007
Publications
Thornton JL, Chevallier KM, Koka K, Lupo JE, & Tollin DJ (in revision) “The conductive hearing loss due to an experimentally-induced middle ear effusion alters the interaural level and time difference cues to sound location” J Assoc Res Otolaryngol: In Revision
Zawada WM, Banninger GP, Thornton JL, Marriott B, Cantu D, Rachubinski AL, Das M, Griffin WS, Jones SM (2011) “Generation of reactive oxygen species in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) treated dopaminergic neurons occurs as an NADPH oxidase-dependent two-wave cascade” J Neuroinflammation 8:129.
Lupo JE, Koka K, Thornton JL, & Tollin DJ (2011) “The effects of experimentally induced conductive hearing loss on spectral and temporal aspects of sound transmission through the ear" Hear Res. 272:30-41.
Koka, K., Jones, HG., Thornton, JL., Lupo, JE., & Tollin, DJ. (2011) “Sound pressure transformations by the head and pinnae of the adult chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)” Hear Res. 2:135-47.
Jones, HG., Koka, K., Thornton, JL., & Tollin, DJ. (2011) “Concurrent development of the head and pinnae and the acoustical cues to sound location in a precocious species, the chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)” J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 12:127-40.
Chatterjee, K., Thornton, JL., Bauer, J., Vogler, E., and Siedlecki, C. (2009). “Moderation of prekallikrien-factor XII interactions in surface activation of coagulation by protein-adsorption competition” Biomaterials 30, 4915-20.
Grant Awards
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA)
- Basic Neuroscience Advanced Training Grant (BNAT)