Associate Professor; Neuroscience Concentration Coordinator
Year Started at JMU: 2016
vidalgx@jmu.edu
Contact Info
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8623-7476
Research Description
Dr. George Vidal is a developmental neurobiologist studying how brain circuits wire up in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Dysfunctional development of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus is associated with many brain disorders, including autism. Dr. Vidal's overall research goal is to understand how “nature” (genetics) and “nurture” (neural activity) work to help the cerebral cortex and hippocampus develop normally. Together with his JMU mentees, Dr. Vidal's lab uses cutting-edge neuroscience techniques to understand the roles of autism genetic risk factors as cerebral cortical circuits wire up. Additionally, Dr. Vidal is the current coordinator of the biology department's neuroscience concentration.
Courses
- Developmental Neurobiology (BIO 448/548) and Laboratory (BIO 448L/548L)
- Understanding Techniques in Neuroscience (BIO 443/543)
- Brain and Mind (Integrative General Education, UNST 300E)
- Human Anatomy (BIO 290) and Laboratory (BIO 290L)
Education
- PhD in Neurosciences, 2016, Stanford University
- AB in Neurobiology, 2009, Harvard University
Select Publications
- Handwerk CJ*, Denzler CJ*, Kalinowski AR*, Cook HN*, Rodriguez HV*, Bland KM*, Brett CA*, Swinehart BD*, Vinson EC*, Vidal GS (2023). Integrin β3 regulates apical dendritic morphology of pyramidal neurons throughout hippocampal CA3. Hippocampus.
- Lopuch AJ,* Swinehart BD,* Widener EL,* Holley ZL,* Bland KM,* Handwerk CJ,* Brett CA,* Cook HN,* Kalinowski AR,* Rodriguez HV,* Song MI,* Vidal GS (2022). Integrin β3 in forebrain Emx1-expressing cells regulates repetitive self-grooming and sociability in mice. BMC Neuroscience.
- Bland KM,* Aharon A, Widener EL,* Song MI, Casey ZO,* Zuo Y, Vidal GS. 2021. FMRP regulates the subcellular distribution of cortical dendritic spine density in a non-cell-autonomous manner. Neurobiology of Disease.
*indicates JMU student co-author
