Professor Ruth Empson, Our People, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, New Zealand

Professor Ruth Empson’s laboratory uses a combination of electrophysiology, live imaging and molecular approaches to better understand the consequences of modifications to neuronal circuits. She is interested in those circuits or networks within the cerebellum and motor cortex that contribute to our ability to make controlled movements. This research has relevance for highly debilitating and poorly treated movement disorders such as ataxia, motor neuron disease and spinal injury. She is also becoming increasingly interested in the contribution of the cerebellum to cognitive processes and its disruption in the poorly treated disorder, autism.

Find out more about Professor Empson’s research.

^ Top of page

Publications

Ohline, S. M., Liu, X., Ibrahim, M. F., Mockett, B., Empson, R. M., Abraham, W. C., Iremonger, K. J., & Jones, P. P. (2022, August-September). Altered membrance properties but unchanged intrinsic excitability and spontaneous postsynaptic currents in an aged APP_swe/PS1dE9 model of Alzheimer's disease. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand.

Ohline, S. M., Liu, X., Ibrahim, M. F., Mockett, B. G., Empson, R. M., Abraham, W. C., Iremonger, K. J., & Jones, P. P. (2022). Altered membrane properties but unchanged intrinsic excitability and spontaneous postsynaptic currents in an aged APP_swe/PS1dE9 model of Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 16, 958876. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2022.958876

Deeney, E., Ibrahim, M., Potapov, K., Hughes, S., & Empson, R. (2022). Voluntary exercise restores motor performance in a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). In K. Horne (Ed.), Proceedings of the 38th International Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research (AWCBR). (pp. 61). Retrieved from https://www.queenstownresearchweek.org

Nakano, T., Rizwan, S. B., Myint, D. M. A., Gray, J., Mackay, S. M., Harris, P., Perk, C. G., Hyland, B. I., Empson, R., Tan, E. W., … Reynolds, J. N. J., & Wickens, J. R. (2022). An on-demand drug delivery system for control of epileptiform seizures. Pharmaceutics, 14, 468. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020468

Jimenez-Martin, J., Potapov, D., Potapov, K., Knöpfel, T., & Empson, R. M. (2021). Cholinergic modulation of sensory processing in awake mouse cortex. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 17525. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96696-8

Empson, R. M., Tantirigama, M. L. S., Oswald, M. J., Hughes, S. M., & Knöpfel, T. (2015). Combined immunochemistry and live imaging of fluorescent protein expressing neurons in mouse brain. In A. Merighi & L. Lossi (Eds.), Immunocytochemistry and related techniques. (pp. 357-373). New York: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2313-7_19

Chapter in Book - Research

Roome, C. J., & Empson, R. M. (2010). Assessment of the contribution of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase, PMCA, calcium transporter to synapse function using patch clamp electrophysiology and fast calcium imaging. In Q. Yan (Ed.), Membrane transporters in drug discovery and development: Methods and Protocols [Vol. 637]. (pp. 343-360). New York: Springer Science+Business Media. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-700-6_19

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Clare, A. J., Day, R. C., Empson, R. M., & Hughes, S. M. (2018). Transcriptome profiling of layer 5 intratelencephalic projection neurons from the mature mouse motor cortex. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11, 410. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00410

Journal - Research Article

Clare, A. J., Wicky, H. E., Empson, R. M., & Hughes, S. M. (2017). RNA-sequencing analysis reveals a regulatory role for transcription factor Fezf2 in the mature motor cortex. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10, 283. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00283

Journal - Research Article

Ibrahim, M. F., Power, E. M., Potapov, K., & Empson, R. M. (2017). Motor and cerebellar architectural abnormalities during the early progression of ataxia in a mouse model of SCA1 and how early prevention leads to a better outcome later in life. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 11, 292. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00292

Journal - Research Article

Antic, S. D., Empson, R. M., & Knöpfel, T. (2016). Voltage imaging to understand connections and functions of neuronal circuits. Journal of Neurophysiology, 116, 135-152. doi: 10.1152/jn.00226.2016

Journal - Research Article

Power, E. M., English, N. A., & Empson, R. M. (2016). Are Type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of cerebellar ataxia? Journal of Physiology, 594(16), 4643-4652. doi: 10.1113/jp271153

Journal - Research Article

Power, E. M., Morales, A., & Empson, R. M. (2016). Prolonged type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor dependent synaptic signaling contributes to spino-cerebellar ataxia type 1. Journal of Neuroscience, 36(18), 4910-4916. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.3953-15.2016

Journal - Research Article

Tantirigama, M. L. S., Oswald, M. J., Clare, A. J., Wicky, H. E., Day, R. C., Hughes, S. M., & Empson, R. M. (2016). Fezf2 expression in layer 5 projection neurons of mature mouse motor cortex. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 524(4), 829-845. doi: 10.1002/cne.23875

Journal - Research Article

Empson, R. M., Goulton, C., Scholtz, D., Gallero-Salas, Y., Zeng, H., & Knöpfel, T. (2015). Validation of optical voltage reporting by the genetically encoded voltage indicator VSFP-Butterfly from cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in mouse brain slices. Physiological Reports, 3(7), e12468. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12468

Journal - Research Article

Madisen, L., Garner, A. R., Shimaoka, D., Chuong, A. S., Klapoetke, N. C., Li, L., … Empson, R. M., … Zeng, H. (2015). Transgenic mice for intersectional targeting of neural sensors and effectors with high specificity and performance. Neuron, 85(5), 942-958. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.022

Journal - Research Article

Schoderboeck, L., Riad, S., Bokor, A. M., Wicky, H. E., Strauss, M., Bostina, M., Oswald, M. J., Empson, R. M., & Hughes, S. M. (2015). Chimeric rabies SADB19-VSVg-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors mediate long-range retrograde transduction from the mouse spinal cord. Gene Therapy, 22, 357-364. doi: 10.1038/gt.2015.3

Journal - Research Article

Power, E. M., & Empson, R. M. (2014). Functional contributions of glutamate transporters at the parallel fibre to Purkinje neuron synapse: Relevance for the progression of cerebellar ataxia. Cerebellum & Ataxias, 1, 3. doi: 10.1186/2053-8871-1-3

Journal - Research Article

Tantirigama, M. L. S., Oswald, M. J., Duynstee, C., Hughes, S. M., & Empson, R. M. (2014). Expression of the developmental transcription factor Fezf2 identifies a distinct subpopulation of layer 5 intratelencephalic-projection neurons in mature mouse motor cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 34(12), 4303-4308. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.3111-13.2014

Journal - Research Article

Empson, R. M., Huang, H., Nagaraja, R. Y., Roome, C. J., & Knöpfel, T. (2013). Enhanced synaptic inhibition in the cerebellar cortex of the ataxic PMCA2^-/- knockout mouse. Cerebellum, 12, 667-675. doi: 10.1007/s12311-013-0472-0

Journal - Research Article

Oswald, M. J., Tantirigama, M. L. S., Sonntag, I., Hughes, S. M., & Empson, R. M. (2013). Diversity of layer 5 projection neurons in the mouse motor cortex. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 7, 174. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00174

Journal - Research Article

Roome, C. J., & Empson, R. M. (2013). The contribution of the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase (PMCA) to cerebellar synapse function. Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology, 961, 251-263. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-4756-6_21

Journal - Research Article

Roome, C. J., Knöpfel, T., & Empson, R. M. (2013). Functional contributions of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase and the sodium—calcium exchanger at mouse parallel fibre to Purkinje neuron synapses. Pflügers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology, 465(2), 319-331. doi: 10.1007/s00424-012-1172-1

Journal - Research Article

Roome, C. J., Power, E. M., & Empson, R. M. (2013). Transient reversal of the sodium/calcium exchanger boosts presynaptic calcium and synaptic transmission at a cerebellar synapse. Journal of Neurophysiology, 109(6), 1669-1680. doi: 10.1152/jn.00854.2012

Journal - Research Article

Empson, R. M., & Knöpfel, T. (2012). Functional integration of calcium regulatory mechanisms at Purkinje neuron synapses. Cerebellum, 11(3), 640-650. doi: 10.1007/s12311-010-0185-6

Journal - Research Article

Russell, C. L., Semerdjieva, S., Empson, R. M., Austen, B. M., Beesley, P. W., & Alifragis, P. (2012). Amyloid-β acts as a regulator of neurotransmitter release disrupting the interaction between synaptophysin and VAMP2. PLoS ONE, 7(8), e43201. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043201

Journal - Research Article

Empson, R. M., Akemann, W., & Knöpfel, T. (2010). The role of the calcium transporter protein plasma membrane calcium ATPase PMCA2 in cerebellar Purkinje neuron function. Functional Neurology, 25(3), 153-163.

Journal - Research Article

Empson, R. M., Turner, P. R., Nagaraja, R. Y., Beesley, P. W., & Knöpfel, T. (2010). Reduced expression of the Ca²⁺ transporter protein PMCA2 slows Ca²⁺ dynamics in mouse cerebellar Purkinje neurons and alters the precision of motor coordination. Journal of Physiology, 588(6), 907-922. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.182196

Journal - Research Article

Huang, H., Nagaraja, R. Y., Garside, M. L., Akemann, W., Knöpfel, T., & Empson, R. M. (2010). Contribution of plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase to cerebellar synapse function. World Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1(5), 95-102. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v1.i5.95

Journal - Research Article

Garside, M. L., Turner, P. R., Austen, B., Strehler, E. E., Beesley, P. W., & Empson, R. M. (2009). Molecular interactions of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase 2 at pre- and post-synaptic sites in rat cerebellum. Neuroscience, 162(2), 383-395. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.04.059

Journal - Research Article

Jensen, T. P., Buckby, L. E., & Empson, R. M. (2009). Reduced expression of the "fast" calcium transporter PMCA2a during homeostatic plasticity. Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, 41(3), 364-372. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2009.04.011

Journal - Research Article

Empson, R. M., Garside, M. L., & Knöpfel, T. (2007). Plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase 2 contributes to short-term synapse plasticity at the parallel fiber to Purkinje neuron synapse. Journal of Neuroscience, 27(14), 3753-3758.

Journal - Research Article

Jensen, T. P., Filoteo, A. G., Knopfel, T., & Empson, R. M. (2007). Presynaptic plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform 2a regulates excitatory synaptic transmission in rat hippocampal CA3. Journal of Physiology, 579(1), 85-99. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.123901

Journal - Research Article

Buckby, L. E., Jensen, T. P., Smith, P. J. E., & Empson, R. M. (2006). Network stability through homeostatic scaling of excitatory and inhibitory synapses following inactivity in CA3 of rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, 31, 805-816. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2006.01.009

Journal - Research Article

Empson, R. M., Buckby, L. E., Kraus, M., Bates, K. J., Crompton, M. R., Gundelfinger, E. D., & Beesley, P. W. (2006). The cell adhesion molecule neuroplastin-65 inhibits hippocampal long-term potentiation via a mitogen-activated protein kinase p38-dependent reduction in surface expression of GluR1-containing glutamate receptors. Journal of Neurochemistry, 99(3), 850-860. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04123.x

Journal - Research Article

Ibrahim, M. F., Beevis, J. C., & Empson, R. M. (2021). Essential tremor: A cerebellar driven disorder? Neuroscience, 462, 262-273. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.11.002

Journal - Research Other

Roome, C. J., & Empson, R. M. (2018). Survival strategies for mouse cerebellar Purkinje neurons lacking PMCA2. Neuroscience Letters, 663, 25-28. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.09.045

Journal - Research Other

Denny, P., McDonald, F., Empson, R., Kelly, P., & Petersen, A. (2018). Empirical support for a causal relationship between gamification and learning outcomes. Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 311. New York, NY: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3173574.3173885

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper