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Arnaldo Carreira Rosario

Assistant Professor of Biology
Biology
137 Bio Science, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708
4220A French Science Center, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


All brains must transition from inactive to active during development. While neural activity early in life is crucial for neural circuit wiring in many contexts, how the brain “turns on”, and how this initial activity influences circuit formation, remain unclear in any system.  To study this evolutionarily conserved phenomenon, we combine imaging of neural activity in the intact fruit fly embryo, quantitative behavioral analysis, and advanced genetics.  The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) offers a unique set of powerful genetic tools and has an accessible nervous system that shares common features with those many animals, including humans.  Our research program aims to reveal the underlying logic of how brains become active, and how early activity influences circuit formation to sculpt mature behaviors.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor of Biology · 2024 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Assistant Professor in Neurobiology · 2024 - Present Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments

Recent Publications


Mechanosensory input during circuit formation shapes Drosophila motor behavior through patterned spontaneous network activity.

Journal Article Current biology : CB · December 2021 Neural activity sculpts circuit wiring in many animals. In vertebrates, patterned spontaneous network activity (PaSNA) generates sensory maps and establishes local circuits.1-3 However, it remains unclear how PaSNA might shape neuronal circuits ... Full text Cite

MDN brain descending neurons coordinately activate backward and inhibit forward locomotion.

Journal Article eLife · August 2018 Command-like descending neurons can induce many behaviors, such as backward locomotion, escape, feeding, courtship, egg-laying, or grooming (we define 'command-like neuron' as a neuron whose activation elicits or 'commands' a specific behavior). In most an ... Full text Cite

Neural circuits driving larval locomotion in Drosophila.

Journal Article Neural development · April 2018 More than 30 years of studies into Drosophila melanogaster neurogenesis have revealed fundamental insights into our understanding of axon guidance mechanisms, neural differentiation, and early cell fate decisions. What is less understood is how a group of ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Training Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2001 - 2027

Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 2021 - 2026

Structure and function of spontaneous network activity during circuit formation

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


UT Southwestern Medical School · 2016 Ph.D.
University of Puerto Rico · 2009 B.S.

External Links


Lab Website