Robert Kyle

PhD Student
Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation

Research Summary

My research focuses on understanding how we learn temporally integrated behaviours such as language, attention, motor control, and planning. It is thought that modulatory effects of the neurotransmitter Dopamine are critical to understanding how these goal-directed behaviours are learned. My PhD involves investigating the biophysical effects of Dopamine, and determining how these effects shape behaviour in physiological and pathological states such as Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

My PhD supervisors are David Willshaw and Daniel Durstewitz

My reading list & bibliography

Citeulike : Who and what I'm reading, and my reading list

Publications

CNS*2009 poster : Dopamine D1/D2 modulation of synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex

Journal Club

I also run the Beyond Neurotransmission journal club

Other stuff

In my spare time I do a bit of volunteering work with venture scotland, and the health project at Bridgend allotments.

I'm also currently working on a project to map edible and useful wild plants growing in urban areas. If you find anything while you're out on a walk you can add it to our foragers' map at http://forage.rs

This year I am also working on abundance edinburgh - a project to harvest surplus fruit grown in the city and redistribute it to worthy causes. The project is a great way of highlighting the benefits of locally grown seasonal produce, and it's great fun too.