Biography:Rodolfo Llinás

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Rodolfo Llinás
Rodolfo Llinás in 2010.png
Born (1934-12-16) 16 December 1934 (age 89)
Bogotá, Colombia
Alma materPontificia Universidad Javeriana and Australian National University
Known forPhysiology of the cerebellum, the thalamus, Thalamocortical dysrhythmia as well as for his pioneering work on the inferior olive, on the squid giant synapse and on human magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Scientific career
FieldsNeuroscience
InstitutionsNYU School of Medicine

Rodolfo R. Llinás (Bogotá, Colombia 16 December 1934) is a Colombian neuroscientist. He is currently the Thomas and Suzanne Murphy Professor of Neuroscience and Chairman Emeritus of the department of Physiology & Neuroscience at the NYU School of Medicine. He attended the Gimnasio Moderno school and received his MD from the Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá in 1959 and his PhD in 1965 from the Australian National University working under Sir John Eccles.[1] Llinás has published over 800 scientific articles.[1]

Early life

Llinás was born in Bogotá, Colombia. He is the son of Jorge Enrique Llinas and Bertha Riascos. He was motivated to study the brain by watching his grandfather Pablo Llinás Olarte working as a neuropsychiatrist. He went to the Gimnasio Moderno school in Bogotá and graduated as a medical doctor from the Pontifical Xavierian University in 1959.[1] During his medical studies he had the opportunity to travel to Europe and there he met several researchers in Spain, France and finally Switzerland , where he participated in neurophysiology experiments with Dr. Walter Rudolf Hess, Nobel Prize in Physiology, Medicine, professor and director of the Department of the Institute of Physiology of the University of Zurich. Additionally, while studying medicine he made a theoretical thesis on the visual system under the tuition of neurosurgeon and neurophysiologist Fernando Rosas and the mathematician Carlo Federici at the National University of Colombia.[2] Llinás is an atheist[citation needed] and describes himself as a logical positivist.[3]

Work

He has studied the electrophysiology of single neurons in the cerebellum, the thalamus, the cerebral cortex, the entorhinal cortex, the hippocampus, the vestibular system, the inferior olive and the spinal cord. He has studied synaptic transmitter release in the squid giant synapse. He has studied human brain function using magnetoencephalography (MEG) on the basis of which he introduced the concept of Thalamocortical dysrhythmia.[4]

Career

Llinás has occupied a number of positions.[5]

  • Research fellow, Massachusetts General Hosp.-Harvard University, 1960–61
  • National Institutes of Health research fellow in physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1961–63
  • Associate professor, University Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1965–66
  • Associate member, American Medical Association Institute Biomed. Research, Chicago, 1966–68
  • Member, American Medical Association Institute Biomed. Research, Chicago, 1970
  • Head neurobiology unit, American Medical Association Institute Biomed. Research, Chicago, 1967–70
  • Associate professor neurology and psychiatry, Northwestern University, 1967–71
  • Guest professor physiology, Wayne State University, 1967–74
  • Professorial lecturer pharmacology, University Ill.-Chgo., 1967–68
  • Clinical professor, University Ill.-Chgo., 1968–72
  • Professor physiology, head neurobiology div., University of Iowa, 1970–76
  • Prof., chairman physiology and biophysics, New York University, New York City, 1976—2011
  • Thomas and Suzanne Murphy professor neuroscience., New York University, 1985—
  • University Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology., New York University, 2011—

Contributions

  • Discovery of dendritic inhibition in central neurons (at the mammalian motoneuron).[6]
  • The functional organization of the cerebellar cortex neuronal circuits.[7]
  • Defining cerebellar function from an evolutionary perspective.[8]
  • First description of electrical coupling in the mammalian CNS (mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus).[9]
  • First determination of presynaptic calcium current, under voltage clamp, at the squid giant synapse.[10][11]
  • Discovery that vertebrate neurons (cerebellar Purkinje cell) can generate calcium-dependent spikes.[12][13]
  • Proposal and Organization of NASA Neurolab Project that flew on April 17, 1998, Space Shuttle Columbia.[14]
  • Discovery of the P-type calcium channel in the Purkinje cells.[12]
  • Discovery of low threshold spikes generated by low voltage activated calcium conductaces (presently known as due to T-type calcium channel) in inferior olive and thalamus neurons.[15][16]
  • A tensor network model of the transformation of sensory space-time coordinates into motor coordinates by the cerebellum.[17]
  • Asserting the law of no interchangeability of neurons, which it is known as Llinás' law.[18]
  • Direct demonstration of calcium concentration microdomains at the presynaptic active zone.[19]
  • Utilization of magnetoencephalography in clinical research.[20]
  • Discovery of subthreshold membrane potential oscillations in the inferior olive, thalamus and entorhinal cortex.[21][22]
  • The discovery of Thalamocortical dysrhythmia.[4]
  • Artificial olivo-cerebellar motor control system as part of the project BAUV (Undersea Vehicle) of the US Navy developed by P. Bandyopadhyay.[23][24]

Memberships and Honors

Llinás is a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences (1986), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1996), American Philosophical Society (1996), the Real Academia Nacional de Medicina (Spain) (1996) and the French Academy of Science (2002). Dr. Llinás has received honorary degrees from the following universities:

  • Universidad de Salamanca (Spain) (1985)
  • Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain) (1993)
  • National University of Colombia (1994)
  • Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain (1997)
  • Los Andes University (Colombia), Bogotá, Colombia, (1998)
  • Toyama University, Toyama, Japan (2005)
  • University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (2006)

Dr. Llinás has received the following awards:

  • Bernard Katz Award Biohysical Society, Washington USA (2012)[2]
  • Gold Medal of CSIC, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain (2012)[3]
  • Cajal Diploma given by Queen Sofia of Spain Madrid, Spain (2013)[4]
  • Ragnar Granit Lecture and Award, Nobel Institute, Stockholm, Sweden (2013)
  • Castilla del Pino Lecture and Award Cordoba, Spain (2015)[5]
  • Nansen Neuroscience Lecture and award Norwegian Academy of Science, Oslo, Norway (2016)[6]
  • Scholar of the Year Australian National University, Canberra, Australia (2016)[7]

He was the chairman of NASA/Neurolab Science Working Group, in 2011 received University Professor Distinction from New York University [8] and in 2013, the NYU Neuroscience Institute created the Annual Rodolfo Llinás Lecture Series in recognition of his contributions to the field of neuroscience.[25]

Selected bibliography

Books

  • Hubbard, J.I., Llinás, R. and Quastel, D.M.J. Electrophysiological Analysis of Synaptic Transmission. London: Edward Arnold Publishers 1969.
  • Llinás, R. Editor. Neurobiology of Cerebellar Evolution and Development. (Chicago: Am. Med. Association, 1969)
  • Precht, W., Llinás, R. (eds.): Frog Neurobiology: a handbook. (Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1976). link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-642-66316-1 ISBN:978-3-642-66318-5
  • Steriade, M., Jones, E., y Llinás, R (Eds.): Thalamic Oscillations and Signaling. The Neurosciences Institute Publications Series. (John Wiley & Sons, 1990). ISBN:0-471-51508-6
  • Llinás, R. y Sotelo, C (eds.): The Cerebellum Revisited. (Nueva York: Springer-Verlag, 1992). link.springer.com/10.1007/978-1-4612-2840-0 ISBN:978-1-4612-7691-3
  • Buzsaki, G., Llinas, R., Singer, W., Berthoz, A. , Christen, Y. (eds.): Temporal Coding in the Brain. (Nueva York: Springer-Verlag, 1994). link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-642-85148-3 ISBN:978-3-642-85150-6
  • Llinás, Rodolfo R. and Churchland, Patricia S. Mind-Brain Continuum: Sensory Processes The MIT Press (September 9, 1996) ISBN:0-262-12198-0
  • Llinás, Rodolfo R. The Squid Giant Synapse : A Model for Chemical Transmission Oxford University Press, USA (December 15, 1999) ISBN:0-19-511652-6
  • Llinás, Rodolfo. El reto: Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología. Tercer Mundo Editores, 2000) ISBN:978-958-601-887-6
  • Llinás, R. I of the Vortex: From Neurons to Self (MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 2001). ISBN:0-262-62163-0

Book chapters

  • Llinas, R. R. Neuroscientific basis of consciousness and dreaming. Chapter 3.6. In: Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. 8th ed. (2005).
  • Llinas, RR. Oscillation in the inferior olive neurons: Functional implication. Chapter 39. pp. 293–298. In: Essentials of Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders: A Primer for Graduate Students. Springer (2016) ISBN:978-3-319-24551-5
  • Llinas, R. R. Consciousness and Dreaming from a Pathophysiological Perspective: The Thalamocortical Dysrhythmia Syndrome. Chapter 3.5. In: Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. 10th ed. (2017). ISBN:978-1-4511-0047-1

Review articles

  • Llinás RR. The intrinsic electrophysiological properties of mammalian neurons: insights into central nervous system function. Science. 1988 Dec 23;242(4886):1654-64.
  • Llinás RR, Sugimori M, Cherksey B. Voltage-dependent calcium conductance in mammalian neurons. The P channel. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1989;560:103-11.
  • Llinás RR. Depolarization release coupling: an overview. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991;635:3-17.
  • Llinás RR, Paré D. Of dreaming and wakefulness. Neuroscience. 1991;44(3):521-35.
  • Llinás R, Ribary U. Consciousness and the brain. The thalamocortical dialogue in health and disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001 Apr;929:166-75.
  • Llinás, Rodolfo R., and Steriade, Mircea. Bursting of thalamic neurons and states of vigilance. Invited Review J. Neurophysiol., 95:3297-3308, 2006. doi:10.1152/jn.00166.2006
  • Roy S, Llinás R. Dynamic geometry, brain function modeling, and consciousness. Prog Brain Res. 2008;168:133-44. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(07)68011-X
  • Llinás RR. Cerebellar motor learning versus cerebellar motor timing: the climbing fibre story. J Physiol. 2011 Jul 15;589(Pt 14):3423-32. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.207464.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Squire, Larry R (2006). The history of neuroscience in autobiography. New York, New York: Elsevier. p. 413. ISBN 978-0-12-370514-3. 
  2. Correa, Pablo (2017) (in es). Rodolfo Llinás. La pregunta difícil. Aguilar. ISBN 9789585425408. https://books.google.com.co/books?id=JcQ_DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=la+pregunta+dificil&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjW7qW5yYPdAhUSvVMKHRxuDMoQ6AEILDAA#v=onepage&q=la%20pregunta%20dificil&f=false. 
  3. P. (2016). Rodolfo R. Llinas - Can Science Talk God? Retrieved August 26, 2016, from https://www.closertotruth.com/series/can-science-talk-god
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Thalamocortical dysrhythmia: A neurological and neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by magnetoencephalography". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96 (26): 15222–7. 1999. doi:10.1073/pnas.96.26.15222. PMID 10611366. 
  5. Perruso, Alison, ed (2016). Who's Who in Science and Engineering 2016-2017. New Providence, New Jersey: Marquis Who's Who, 2016. ISBN 978-0-8379-5772-2. https://www.marquiswhoswho.com/collections/whos-who-publications/products/whos-who-science-engineering. 
  6. Llinas, R; Terzuolo CA (1965). "Mechanisms of supraspinal actions upon spinal cord activities. Reticular inhibitory mechanisms upon flexor motoneurons". The Journal of Neurophysiology 28: 413–422. 
  7. Llinás, Rodolfo; Walton, Kerry D; Lang, Eric J (2004). "Chapter 7: Cerebellum". in Shepherd, Gordon M. The synaptic organization of the brain. New York, New York: Oxford University press. pp. 271–310. ISBN 0-19-515955-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=rfcRDAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Synaptic+Organization+of+the+Brain+Gordon+M.+Shepherd#v=onepage. 
  8. Llinas, RR (1969). "Functional aspects of interneuronal evolution in the cerebellar cortex". UCLA Forum Med Sci 11: 329–48. PMID 5397400. 
  9. Baker, R.; Llinás, R. (1971-01-01). "Electrotonic coupling between neurones in the rat mesencephalic nucleus". The Journal of Physiology 212 (1): 45–63. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009309. ISSN 0022-3751. PMID 5545184. 
  10. Llinás, R.; Steinberg, I. Z.; Walton, K. (1976-08-01). "Presynaptic calcium currents and their relation to synaptic transmission: voltage clamp study in squid giant synapse and theoretical model for the calcium gate". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 73 (8): 2918–2922. doi:10.1073/pnas.73.8.2918. ISSN 0027-8424. PMID 183215. 
  11. Llinás, R.; Steinberg, I. Z.; Walton, K. (1980-09-01). "Transmission in the squid giant synapse: a model based on voltage clamp studies". Journal de Physiologie 76 (5): 413–418. ISSN 0021-7948. PMID 6256531. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 Llinas, R; Sugimori (1980). "Electrophysiological Properties of in Vitro Purkinje Cell Somata in Mammalian Cerebellar Slices". The Journal of Physiology 305: 171–195. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013357. 
  13. Llinás, R.; Sugimori, M. (1980-08-01). "Electrophysiological properties of in vitro Purkinje cell dendrites in mammalian cerebellar slices". The Journal of Physiology 305: 197–213. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013358. ISSN 0022-3751. PMID 7441553. 
  14. Buckey, Jay C. (2003). Neurolab Spacelab Mission: Neuroscience Research in Space. Houston, Texas: NASA. ISBN 0-9725339-0-7. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20030068190. 
  15. Llinás, R.; Yarom, Y. (June 1981). "Electrophysiology of mammalian inferior olivary neurones in vitro. Different types of voltage-dependent ionic conductances". The Journal of Physiology 315: 549–567. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1981.sp013763. ISSN 0022-3751. PMID 6273544. 
  16. Llinás, R.; Yarom, Y. (June 1981). "Properties and distribution of ionic conductances generating electroresponsiveness of mammalian inferior olivary neurones in vitro". The Journal of Physiology 315: 569–584. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1981.sp013764. ISSN 0022-3751. PMID 7310722. 
  17. Roy, Sisir; Llinás, Rodolfo. Dynamic geometry, brain function modeling, and consciousness. pp. 133–144. doi:10.1016/s0079-6123(07)68011-x. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S007961230768011X. 
  18. Llinás, Rodolfo (1990). «Intrinsic Electrical Properties of Mammalian Neurons and CNS Function». Fidia Research Foundation Neuroscience Award Lectures, 1988-1989 (Raven Press) 4: p. 175.
  19. Llinas, R; Sugimori, M; Silver, R. (1 May 1992). "Microdomains of high calcium concentration in a presynaptic terminal". Science 256 (5057): 677–679. doi:10.1126/science.1350109. PMID 1350109. 
  20. Rezai, A. R.; Hund, M.; Kronberg, E.; Deletis, V.; Zonenshayn, M.; Cappell, J.; Ribary, U.; Llinás, R. et al. (1995). "Introduction of magnetoencephalography to stereotactic techniques". Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 65 (1–4): 37–41. doi:10.1159/000098894. ISSN 1011-6125. PMID 8916327. 
  21. Llinas R., Yarom Y. (1986). "Oscillatory properties of guinea-pig inferior olivary neurones and their pharmacological modulation: an in vitro study". J. Physiol. 376: 163–182. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1986.sp016147. 
  22. Alonso A., Llinas R. (1989). "Subthreshold Na+-dependent theta-like rhythmicity in entorhinal cortex layer II stellate cells". Nature 342: 175–177. doi:10.1038/342175a0. 
  23. Llinas, R. R.; Leznik, E.; Makarenko, V. I. (July 2004). "The olivo-cerebellar circuit as a universal motor control system". IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering 29 (3): 631–639. doi:10.1109/joe.2004.833212. ISSN 0364-9059. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1353416/. 
  24. Bandyopadhyay, Promode R. (2016). "11. Highly Maneuverable Biorobotic Underwater Vehicles". in Dhanak, MR (in en-gb). Springer Handbook of Ocean Engineering | SpringerLink. Springer International Publishing. pp. 1287. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16649-0. ISBN 978-3-319-16648-3. https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-16649-0. 
  25. http://www.med.nyu.edu/neuroscience/Llinas-lecture

External links

Newspaper articles