Dr. Lin’s research interests are quite diverse and include the study of neural circuits under normal conditions as well as in association with pathologies such as stroke and/or mental disorders. Current investigations are aimed at understanding the role of neuromodulatory systems including the ventral tegmental dopaminergic, incertal gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic, dorsal raphe serotonergic, as well as locus coeruleus noradrenergic systems in cortical function and dysfunction. More specifically, Dr. Lin’s laboratory investigates (1) the functional role of the GABAergic pathway from the zona incerta to the neocortex and superior colliculus, (2) the neuroanatomical and neurochemical organization of brainstem modulatory systems with respect to the trigeminal somatosensory pathway, (3) dendritic breakdown as an indicator of early pathogenesis after injury, and (4) neuronal protection after ischemia.  To address his hypotheses, Dr. Lin utilizes the techniques of neuronal tract tracing, immunohistochemistry, ensemble neuronal recording at multiple sites, as well as animal behavior.  Dr. Lin’s research projects are presently supported by four different NIH grants, where Dr. Lin serves as either principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or co-investigator.

Selected Publications

  Kaas, J.H., Nelson, R., Sur, M., Lin, R.C.S., and Merzenich, M.M.: Multiple representations of the body within “SI” of primates: A redefinition of primary somatosensory cortex. Science, 204:521-523, 1979.

Friedlander, M.J., Lin, R.C.S., and Sherman, S.M.: Structure of physiologically identified X- and Y-cells in the cat’s lateral geniculate nucleus. Science, 204:1114-1117, 1979. 

Lin, R.C.S., Nicolelis, A.A.L., Schneider, J.S., and Chapin, J.K.: A major direct GABAergic pathway from zona incerta to neocortex. Science, 248:1553-1556, 1990.

Nicolelis, M.A.L., Lin, R.C.S., Woodward, D.J., and Chapin, J.K.: Dynamic and distributed properties of many-neuron ensembles in the ventral posterior medial (VPM) thalamus of awake rats. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 90:2212-2216, 1993.

Nicolelis, M.A.L., Lin, R.C.S., Woodward, D.J., and Chapin, J.K.: Peripheral block of ascending cutaneous information induces immediate spatio-temporal changes in thalamic networks. Nature, 361:533-536, 1993.

Nicolelis, M.A.L., Baccala, L.A., Lin, R.C.S., and Chapin, J.K.: Sensorimotor encoding by synchronous neural ensemble activity at multiple levels of the somatosensory system. Science, 268:1353-1358, 1995.

Lin, R.C.S.: New concepts in cerebral ischemia. Editor-in-Chief, CRC Press, 2002.