Matthew J. Kourakis

The paper identifies functional motor neurons and cerebellum-like structures in the Ciona larval caudal CNS, suggesting homology with vertebrate spinal cord and cerebellum.

The paper identifies a single oscillating neuron in Ciona larvae that gates phototaxis behavior by modulating the phototaxis circuit through temporal inhibition.

The paper creates a nervous system atlas of glutamate receptors in Ciona larvae, revealing receptor roles in sensorimotor circuits and unexpected communication mechanisms.

The paper investigates left-right asymmetry disruptions in Ciona larvae caused by dechorionation, revealing asymmetric gene expression, synaptic connectivity, and behavioral changes, including mirror-image reversals.

The paper shows that two visuomotor behaviors in Ciona larvae use different fold-change detection circuits in the posterior brain vesicle.

The paper identifies two parallel visuomotor circuits in Ciona larvae using connectome data, neurotransmitter expression, and behavioral assays.