Tamás F. Freund

Research discoveries include: new molecular pathways in nerve cell communication; identity and principles of neuron connectivity that builds up cortical circuitry; and generation of network activity patterns that underlie various stages of information processing and storage in the brain. Made significant discoveries regarding structure and function of cortical microcircuits, with particular attention to their inhibitory components, and relationship to oscillations that underlie different stages of memory formation. Discovered that pacemaker neurons in the septal region are GABAergic (inhibitory), and selectively innervate GABAergic interneurons in the hippocampus, thereby synchronizing activity rhythmically at theta frequency. Results in epilepsy field provided direct evidence that early loss of inhibitory interneurons lead to conditions that allow interictal spiking to generate hyperexcitable circuits and ultimately lead to the chronic phase characterized by spontaneous seizures. His group discovered that CB1 cannabinoid receptors inhibit neurotransmitter release, and described the structure and operational principles of this circuit breaker in several brain regions.