Adrian Palacios
Professor
Ph.D. in Neurosciences (1991) Université de Pierre et Marie Paris VI, France
2008-2010 Visiting Researcher CORTEX INRIA-UHP et Nancy 2 and CREA Ecole Polytechnique, France

biosketchpalacios2010

Contact Information:
E-mail: adrian.palacios at yahoo.com
Phone: (56)-(32)-2508040 Fax: (56)-(32)-2508027
Address: Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso. Gran Bretaña 1111. Playa Ancha, Valparaíso. Chile.

 

Research Statement: Sensory systems must ultimately be understood at all the biological levels of analysis, from molecular events in cells to the behavioral repertoires of animals seen in the ecological conditions in which their kind evolved. Our currents lab project are focus in sensory ecology, especially in the visual system, from single photoreceptor recording, electroretinogram (ERG), retina slices, multielectrodes array (64X) patch-clamp and measure of the reflectance spectra, from animals and their microhabitat, that are likely to be used as signals in sexual selection, recognition of conspecifics, camouflage. Furthermore, at the retinal level an intricate bioelectrical neural signal network develop dynamically between order & chaos depending on the relevant task for the animal, we using mathematical tools to understand such behavior. Recently my lab interest is moving to the field of Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, using behavior, biochemistry and synaptic plasticity (LTP, LTD) approaches in Octodon degus, a rodent that during aging develop brain marks proper of Alzheimer diseases.

 

Selected Publications (2001-):

• Palma F, Roncagliolo P, Bacigalupo J, Palacios AG. (2001). Membrane current of retinal rods of Caudiverbera caudiverbera (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae): Dark noise, spectral and absolute sensitivity. Visual Neuroscience 18:663-673. PDF
• Thompson E, Palacios A, Varela F (2002) Ways of coloring: Comparative color vision as case study for cognitive science. In Vision and Mind: Selected Readings in the Philosophy of Perception. Ed. by A. Noe, E. Thompson. 15:351-418. MIT Press, Cambridge, USA. (Reprinted for Behavioral and Brain Science, 1992).PDF
• Chávez AE, Bozinovic F, Peichl P, Palacios AG. (2003) Reflectance in the genus Octodon (Rodentia): Implications for visual ecology retinal spectral sensitivity, fur coloration and urine. Investigative Ophthalmology Visual Science. 44(5):2290-2296. PDF

paper featured in:

1. An Eye for Scent Marks Max Planck Society - Press Release o Urine Vision?
2. How Rodents Communicate With UV Light National Geographic.
3. Explora-Metro Degus Vision Ultravioleta
4. NEW 2009 In a Child book full chapter by Ana Maria Rodriguez: The degu's double-take secret in Secret of the singing mice

• Chávez AE, Roncagliolo M, Kurth H, Reichenbach A, Palacios AG. (2003). The Retinal Anatomy and Function of the Myelin Mutant Taiep Rat. Brain Research. 964(1):144 -152. PDF
• Palacios AG, Bozinovic F. (2003). An “Enactive” Approach to Physiological & Behavioral Ecology: Thoughts on the table. Biol Research. 36(1):95-99. PDF
• Chávez AE, Pannicke T, Roncagliolo M, Reichenbach A, Palacios AG. (2004). Electrophysiological Properties of Retinal Müller Glial Cells from a Myelin Mutant Rat. Glia. 2004; 45:338-45. PDF
• Herrera G., Fernández MJ, Pohl N., Diaz M., Bozinovic F., Palacios AG. (2004). Sistema Visual en el Colibrí Austral (Sephanoides sephaniodes) y el Picaflor Cordillerano (Oreotrochilus leucoplerus: Electroretinografía y Coloración. Ornitología Neotropical 15 (suppl.). 215-222. PDF
• Palacios A. Peichl L, Bozinovic F (2004) La vision ultraviolette du rat degus. Pour la Science Cerveau & Psycho; 5: 92-95. PDF
• Peichl L, Chavez AE, Ocampo A, Mena W, Bozinovic F , Palacios AG (2005). Eye and Vision in the Subterranean Rodent Cururo (Spalacopus Cyanus, Octodontidae). The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 486:197-208. PDF

Cover Journal Issue

• Ocampo-Garcés A, Hernández F, Mena W, Palacios AG. (2005). Wheel-running and rest-activity pattern interation in two octodontids (Octodon degus, O bridgesi). Biol. Res. 38:299-305. PDF
• Ocampo-Garcés A, Mena W, Hernández F, Cortés N, Palacios AG. (2006). Circadian chronotypes among wild captured west-andean octodontids. Biol. Res. 39(2):209-20.  PDF
• Brückner G, Pavlica S, Morawski M, Palacios AG, Reichenbach A (2006). Organization of brain extracellular matrix in the Chilean fat-tailed mouse opossum Thylamys elegans (Waterhouse, 1839). J Chem Neuroanat. 2006 Dec;32(2-4):143-58. Epub 2006 Sep 25. PDF
• Goles E, Palacios AG (2007) Dynamical complexity in cognitive neural networks. Biol Res 40:381-384. PDF
• Cosmelli D, Palacios AG (2007). Networks in cognitive systems and biomedicina: cerebral processes, models and mathematical tools design. Biol Res 40:479-485. PDF
• Herrera G, Zagal JC, Diaz M, Fernández MJ, Vielma A, Cure M, Martinez J, Bozinovic F, Palacios AG. (2008) Spectral sensitivities of photoreceptors and their role in colour discrimination in the Green-backed Firecrown Hummingbird (Sephanoides sephaniodes). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 194(9):785-94.PDF
• Zagal, J.C., Ruiz-del-Solar, J., Palacios, A.G. (2008). Fitness Based Identification of a Robot Structure. Proc. 11th Int. Conf. on Artificial Life, pp.733-740, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. Full Paper Accepted with Oral presentation.
• Delgado L, Vielma A, Martínez P, Palacios AG and Schmachtenberg O. (2009) GABAergic system in the retina of neonate and adult Octodon degus. J Comp Neurol. 514(5):459-472. PDF
• Palacios AG. (2009) La Red Encarnada: Cerebro vs Metrópolis. Capitulo. Editorial Ariel, España. PDF
• Cure M, Palacios AG (2009) Do Hummingbird see in the Ultraviolet? The Open Medical Informatics Journal,3, 9-1. PDF
• Martinez J, Palacios AG, Marquez IN, Arroyo MTK, Mpdozis J (2010). Can red floweers be conspicuous to bees? Bombus dahbomii and South American temperate forests flowers as a case in point.  J Exp Biol 213: 564-571. PDF

paper featured in:

1. Inside JEB: BEES USE ACROMATIC CONTRAST TO SEE RED by Kathryn Knight Journal of Experimental Biology 213, ii (2010)

• Palacios AG, Bozinovic F, Vielma A, Arrese CA, David M. Hunt DM, Peichl L (2010) Retinal Photoreceptor Arrangement, SWS and LWS Opsin Sequence, and Electroretinography in the South American Marsupial elegans (Waterhouse, 1839). Journal Comparative Neurology. 518(9):1589-602. PDF
• Schleich C, Vielma A, Glosmann M, Palacios AG, Peichl L (2010) The retinal Photoreceptors of Two Subterranean Tuco-tico Species (Rodentia, Ctenomys): Morphology, Topography and Spectral Sensitivity. In Press Journal Comparative Neurology.
• Palacios-Munoz A, Martinez PL, Palacios AG and Martinez A (2010) Critic role of connexin36 gap juntion channels in the synaptic transmision in the retina of Octodon degus, a diurnal mammal. In revision.
  
• Munoz P, Aspe M, Contreras LS, Palacios AG. (2010) Role od DNA methylation during recogition memory in hippocampus and perirhinal cortex in ratas. Submitted BR.
  
• Vielma A, Delgado LM, Elgueta C, Palacios AG, Schmachtenberg. (2010). Nitric Oxide amplifies the rod response of rat retina, measured by electroretinography. In revision. Experimental Eye Research.
• Cessac B, Vasquez JC, Nasser H, Rostro-Gonzalez H, Vieville T, Palacios AG (2010). Parametric estimation of spike train statistic by Gibbs distribution: An application to bio-inspirared and experimental data. NEUROCOMP 2010 Accepted oral presentation.

 Publications (< 2001):

• M'Harzi M, Palacios A, Monmaur P, Houcine O, Delacour J (1987) Effects of selective lesions of hippocampal connections on learning set in the rat. Physiology & Behavior  40:181-188.
• Willig F, Palacios A, Monmaur P, Laurent J, Delacour J (1987) Short-term memory exploration and locomotor activity in aged rats. Neurobiology of Aging  8:393-402.
• Palacios A, Martinoya C, Bloch S, Varela F (1990) Color mixing in the Pigeon: A psychophysical determination in the longwave spectral range. Vision Research  30:587-596.
• Palacios A, Bonnardel V, Varela F (1990) An autoshaping method for wavelength discrimination in birds.  Compte Rendu de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris  311:213-218.
• Palacios A, Gioanni H, Varela F (1991). Chromatic discrimination in Pigeons after thalamic lesions of nuclei Rotundus (Rt) and Geniculatus Lateralis ventralis (GLv): a psychophysical study Compte Rendu de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris  312:113-116.
• Gioanni H, Palacios A, Sansonetti A, Varela F (1991) Role of the nucleus geniculatus lateralis ventralis (GLv) in the optokinetic reflex: a lesion study in the pigeon. Experimental Brain Research 86:601-607.
• M'Harzi M, Jarrard LE, Willig F, Palacios A, Delacour J (1991) Selective fimbria and thalamic lesions differentially impair forms of working memory. Behavior and Neural Biology 56:221-239.
• Thompson E, Palacios A, Varela  F  (1992) Ways of coloring: Comparative color vision as case study for cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 15:1-25.
• Thompson E, Palacios A, Varela F (1992) On the ways to color: Authors response. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 15:56-74.
• Palacios AG, Varela FJ  (1992) Color mixing in the pigeon (Columba livia)  II: A psychophysique determination in the middled, short and near-UV wavelength range. Vision Research 32:1947-1953.
• Palacios AG, Goldsmith TH (1993) Photocurrents in retinal rods of Pigeons (Columba livia): Kinetics and spectral sensitivity. Journal of Physiology (London) 471:817-829.
• Varela FJ,  Palacios AG, Goldsmith TH (1993) Color vision of birds: In Vision, brain and behavior of birds   5:77-98. ed. Zeigler H. P., Bischof H. J., MIT Press, Cambridge
• Zeigler HP, Jager R, Palacios AG (1993) Sensorimotor mechanisms and pecking in the pigeon. In Vision, brain and behavior of birds. 15:265-283. ed. Zeigler H. P., Bischof H. J., MIT Press, Cambridge
• Palacios AG, Goldsmith TH, Bernard G (1996) Sensitivity of cones from a cyprinid fish (Danio aequipinnatus) to ultraviolet and visible light. Visual Neurosciences. 13:411-421.
• Palacios AG, Goldsmith TH (1996) Visual transduction in vertebrates rods. Biological Research. 29:195-198.
• Roessel van P, Palacios AG, Goldsmith TH. (1997) Activity of long-wavelength cones under scotopic conditions in the cyprinid fish Danio aequipinnatus. Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 181:493-500.
• Palacios AG, Srivastava R, Goldsmith TH. (1998). Spectral and polarization sensitivity of photocurrents of amphibian rods in the visible and ultraviolet.Visual Neuroscience. 15:319-331.
• Palacios AG, Varela FJ, Srivastava R, Goldsmith TH. (1998) Spectral sensitivity in cones in the goldfish, Carassius auratus. Vision Research. 38:2135-2146.

 

 

 

 

 

Outgoing Collaborations

1. Computational Neuroscience: CORTEX INRIA (F. Alexandre , T. Vieville , B. Cessac , A. Hutt , L. Bougrain , France: Financial Support CNRS Neuroinformatique ; INRIA-CONICYT). Some examples of recording and preliminary analysis with MEA multielectrodes are HERE. 

1. Alzheimer Disease (A. Kirkwood , Hopkins University, USA; N. Inestrosa PUC, Chile: Financial support FIRCA-NIH)
2. Sensory Ecology (F. Bozinovic , PUC; Leo Peichl , Max Planck, Germany; David Hunt , Institute of Ophthalmology, England)

 

Other Links

1. Valparaiso Complex System Institute
2. Ecole Polytechnique CREA CNRS France
3. PBCT CONICYT ACT45 Sensorial Ring

Blogs

1. I just set-up a Blog on Complexty (spanish / english):
   

 

Postdoctoral Fellows

· 2007-2009. Dr. Juan C Zagal . Embodied Robot Simulation as an Enactive Approach to Cognition.
· 2007-2009. Dr. Pablo Muñoz. Synaptic plasticity, memory and regulation of methylation
· 2006-2007. Dr. Pablo Muñoz. Octodon degus, a Alzheimer disease model
· 2006. Dr. Cristian Schleich. Visiting researcher. Ctenomys talarum visual system 1m
· 2004. Dr. Carlos Maureira. Retinal physiology in Octodon degus. 3m
· 2001-2004. Dr. Adrián Ocampo. Chronobiology of sleep and rapid eye movement in Octodon degus.

 

Graduate Students Present and Past

· 2009-2010 (stage) Felix Leroy Master in Cognitive Science, ENS Paris, France.
. 2008- Alvaro Ardiles PhD in Science mention Neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis
· 2007- Claudio Elgueta. PhD in Science mention Neuroscience. UV. Co-Tutor Thesis
· 2007- Tatiana Cevo PhD in Science mention Neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis
· 2006- Carolina Soto. PhD in Science mention Neuroscience. UV. Tutor Tesis
· 2005-2008. Tomas Vegas. PhD Molecular, Cellular and Neuroscience. UCH. Co-Tutor Thesis
· 2008. Pablo Lizana. Master Biological Science mention neuroscience. UV. Co-Tutor Thesis
· 2006-2008. Tatiana Cevo. Master Biological Science mention neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis
· 2006-2007. Pedro Martínez. Master Biological Science mention neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis
· 2004-2005. Katica Boric. Master Biological Science mention neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis
· 2003-2004. Gonzalo Herrera. Master Biological Science mention neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis
· 2001-2002. Andrés Chávez. Master Biological Science mention neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis
· 2001-2002. Francisco Palma. Master Biological Science mention neuroscience. UV. Tutor Thesis

 

Undergraduate Students

· 2008. Mauricio Aspée. Psychology. UV. Co-tutor Thesis
· 2008. Sebastian Contreras. Psychology. UV. Co-tutor Thesis
· 2006-2007. Luz Delgado. Biochemistry. PUCV. Co-tutor Thesis
· 2006-2007. Angelina Palacios. Biochemistry. PUCV. Co-tutor Thesis
· 2005-2006. Alejandra Ponce. Biochemistry. PUCV. Tutor Thesis
· 2004-2006. Alex Vielma. Biochemistry. PUCV. Tutor Thesis
· 2002-2005. Johana Pizarro. UCN, Marine Biology. Tutor Thesis.
· 2000-2001. Gonzalo Herrera. UCN, Marine Biology. Tutor Thesis.
· 1999-2001. Carlos Barra. School of Pharmacy. UV. Co-tutor Thesis.
· 1999-2000. Andrés Chávez. Pedagogy in Biology and Sciences. UPLA. Tutor Thesis.

 

Research Assistant

· 2008. Angelina Palacios
· 2007-2008. Alejandra Ponce
· 2007. Alex Vielma
· 2006- 2008. Josey Aviles
· 2004-2010. Pedro Martínez
· 2004-2005. Eduardo Quiroz
· 2002. Marcelo Díaz
· 2000-2001. Patricio Villalobos
· 1998-1999. Francisco Palma
· 1997-1998. Lorena Villarroel
· 1997-2001. Pablo Roncagliolo
· 1999-2000. Leticia Aguiar