Research Areas

I aim to understand neurobiological mechanisms that are fundamental to naturally occurring sleep, attention, or the conscious awareness of our environment. The same state-regulating mechanisms can also be the cause for epilepsy, schizophrenia, or autism spectrum disorders. Understanding these mechanisms is a crucial step to understanding the complex organization of our brain and to the treatment of these diseases.

Selected Publications

  • Coulon P, Landisman CE (2017). The Potential Role of Gap Junctional Plasticity in the Regulation of State. Neuron, 93(6), 1275–95.
  • Coulon P, Gorji A (2016): Tightrope or Slackline? The Neuroscience of Psychoactive Substances. Trends Pharmacol Sci, 37(7), 511-21.
  • Neyer C, Herr D, Kohmann D, Budde T, Pape HC, and Coulon P (2016): mGluR-mediated Calcium Signalling in the Thalamic Reticular Nucleus. Cell Calcium, 59(6), 312-23.
  • Kohmann D, Lüttjohann A, Seidenbecher T, Coulon P*, Pape HC* (2016): Short term depression of gap junctional coupling in reticular thalamic neurons of absence epileptic rats. J Physiol (Lond), 594(19), 5695-710. *equal contribution
  • Born G, Breuer D, Wang S, Rohlmann A, Coulon P, Vakili P, Reissner C, Kiefer F, Heine M, Pape HC, Missler M (2014): Modulation of synaptic function through the α-neurexin–specific ligand neurexophilin-1. PNAS, 111(13), E1274-83.
  • Gerard E, Hochstrate P, Dierkes PW, and Coulon P (2012): Functional properties and cell type specific distribution of Ih channels in leech neurons. J Exp Biol, 215(2), 227-238.
  • Greber B, Coulon P, Zhang M, Moritz S, Frank S, Müller Molina AJ, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Han DW, Pape HC, and Schöler HR (2011): FGF signaling inhibits neural induction in human embryonic stem cells. EMBO J, 30(24), 4874-4884.
  • Döngi M, Hirnet D, Coulon P, Pape HC, Deitmer JW, and Lohr C (2009): GABA uptake-dependent Ca2+ signaling in olfactory bulb astrocytes: a new mechanism of GABAergic signaling. PNAS, 106, 17570-17575.
  • Coulon P, Herr D, Kanyshkova T, Meuth P, Budde T, and Pape HC (2009): Burst discharges in neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus are shaped by calcium-induced calcium release. Cell Calcium, 46, 333-346.

Academic CV

since 2018  Venia legendi in Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
since 2017 Privatdozent/Senior Research Scientist, Optophysiology - Optogenetics and Neurophysiology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
2015-2016 Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Center for Integrated Brain Research, Seattle, WA, USA
2014-2015 Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology and Epilepsy Research Center, Münster, Germany
since 2013 Habilitation, Venia legendi in Physiology, University Münster, Medical Faculty
2012-2014 Principal Investigator, Innovative Medical Research (IMF), Münster, Germany
2006-2014
Postdoc and Senior Postdoc, Institute of Physiology I (Neurophysiology), University Münster, Germany
2005-2006 Coordinator of the International Graduate School of Neuro­science (IGSN), University Bochum, Germany
2001-2005 Research associate and PhD student, Institute of Neurobiology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany, “Dr. rer. nat.” (PhD) and “Dipl. Biol.” (MSc), Majors: Neurobiology, Biophysics, Parasitology, Physics

Honours and Special Recognitions

1. “Sentinel of Science” Award in the field of Neuroscience
2. Editorial Board Member of “The European Journal of Physiology - Pflügers Archiv” (since 2013)
3. Award #1 for an outstanding poster, 87th meeting of the German Physiological Society, Cologne 2008
4. Appointed examiner in Physiology for the Medical Licensure Act (2008 – 2014)