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Synopsis Of Research:
Investigations in our lab focus on changes in trigeminal blinking produced by disease states such as dry eye. Our studies indicate that the symptoms of the focal dystonia, benign essential blepharospasm, are an exaggeration of the adaptive modifications of trigeminal blinks engendered by dry eye or cornea irritation. Dry eye initiates an increase in reflex blink amplitude, converts the trigeminal reflex blink circuit into an oscillator, increases reflex blink excitability, elevates spontaneous blinking, and creates photophobia. All of the changes reflect sensitization of the trigeminal system. To understand the origins and interactions among these modifications and relate them to the development of benign essential blepharospasm, the lab has projects investigating the neural bases of the modifications associated with dry eye in rodents and humans.
Current Or Representative Publications:
Chen F-P, Evinger, C. Cerebellar modulation of trigeminal reflex blinks: Interpositus neurons. J. Neurosci. 26: 10569-76, 2006 - http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~levinger/chen&evinger2006.pdf;
Henriquez VM, Evinger C., The three-neuron corneal reflex circuit and modulation of second-order corneal responsive neurons. Exp. Brain Res. 179: 691-702, 2007 - http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~levinger/henriquez&evinger2007.pdf;
Dauvergne CD, Evinger C., Experiential modification of the trigeminal reflex blink circuit. J. Neurosci. 27: 10414-10422, 2007 - http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~levinger/dauvergne&evinger2007.pdf;
Hallett M, Evinger C, Jankovic J, Stacey M. Update on blepharospasm: Report from the BEBRF International Workshop. Neurology 71: 1275-1282, 2008 - http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~levinger/Hallett2008.pdf
Kaminer J, Powers AS, Horn KG, Hui C, Evinger C. Characterizing the spontaneous blink generator: An animal model. J. Neuroscience 31:11256-11267, 2011 - http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3156585
Dolgonos S, Ayyala H, Evinger C. Light-induced trigeminal sensitization without central visual pathways: Another mechanism for photophobia. Inves. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 52: 7852-7858, 2011 http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~levinger/dolgonos%20et%20al%202011.pdf
Research:
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