I am a physiologist passionately interested in the neural circuitry responsible for extracting relevant from irrelevant stimuli. I find especially fascinating, the dynamic modulation of sensory processing in response to changing environmental demands. In order to investigate how these complex processes are preformed, I examine pre-frontal and auditory cortex, extracellular activity in alert and non-alert conditions. I then apply various neuromodulators (micro-iontophoretic/pressure application) in an attempt to enhance or inhibit specific components of sensory processing. At the synaptic level I have explored the effects of enriched, impoverished, and stressful environments on synaptic connectivity and membrane channel expression using whole cell patch clamp, perforated patch clamp, and sharp electrode techniques in a young / aged rat brain slice preparation. I hope this work will lead to an enhanced understanding of neural re-organization and sensory processing in both healthy and diseased states.