James R. Dearworth, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology - Vertebrate Anatomy
mailto:dearworj@lafayette.edu
e-mail
(610) 330-5466 voice
(610) 330-5705 FAX
Personal
WWW page
My research investigates the anatomical
substrates of vision in vertebrates.
Recent abstracts and publications:
1.
Functional anatomical mapping of the turtle retina. The turtle possesses one of the most complex
retinas found among vertebrates. Using
this neural network, my research investigates the anatomical substrates
underlying sensory processes which lead to visual functions. My laboratory uses electrophysiological,
pharmacological, and molecular methods to examine the anatomy and function of the
retina.
- Lanzone,
A.J. ('07) and Dearworth, J.R.
(2007).
Does melanopsin exist in the
retina of the turtle? 35th
- Marcincin, C.L. ('06) and Dearworth, J.R., Jr. (2006). Computer image
analysis of retinal oil droplets in different vertebrate species. Journal
of the
- Marinucci, M.N. ('05), Prestiano, N.A. ('05) and
Dearworth, J.R., Jr. (2005). Density of retinal oil droplets in the
red-eared slider turtle. Journal of the
Oil droplets in the
turtle retina.
Scale bar is equal to 10 micrometers.
- Dearworth,
J.R., Jr. and Granda, A.M. (2002). Multiplied
functions unify shapes of ganglion-cell receptive fields in retina of
turtle. Journal of
Vision 2(3): 204-217.
- Granda,
A.M., Dearworth, J.R., Jr., and Subramaniam, B.
(1999). Balanced interactions in ganglion-cell receptive fields. Visual
Neuroscience 16(2): 319-332.
2.
Sensory processing done by the retina evokes reflexive motor behaviors which help
protect the eye and aid in image formation.
These include the pupillary light response and
eye blinks.
- Dearworth,
J.R., Brenner, J.E. ('07), and Jones, M.S.
(2007).
Pupil constriction in the turtle evoked by microstimulation of the oculomotor
nerve. 2007 Abstract
Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Program
No. 718.20.
- Dearworth,
J.R., Brune, E.E. ('05), and Boyd, A. ('06).
(2007). The partial consensual pupillary light response in the turtle. 2007 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary
Planner. Program No. 5538.
- Brenner,
J.E. ('07), Dearworth, J.R., and Jones, M.S. (2007). Pupil constriction in the turtle
by microstimulation of the oculomotor
nerve. 35th
- Riegel,
R.A.L ('07), and Dearworth, J.R.
(2007).
The intensity–dependent consensual pupillary
light response in the turtle. Journal of the
- Kelly,
J.N. ('07), George, K.R. ('07), Karwiel, A.N.
('07), and Dearworth, J.R. (2007). Blink response
of the red eared slider turtle. Journal of the
- Blaum,
J.F. ('08) and Dearworth, J.R.
(2007).
Intrinsic light response by the iris of the turtle under
different laboratory conditions.” Journal of the
- Cooper,
L.J. ('07) and Dearworth, J.R.
(2007).
Parasympathetic and sympathetic control of the pupillary light response in the turtle. 11th
Annual NEURON (NorthEast Undergraduate Research
Organization for Neuroscience) Conference at
- Dearworth,
J.R., Jr., Cooper, L.J. ('07), and Littlefield, T.E. ('06) (2006). Effects
of mydriatic drugs and enucleation
on the pupillary light response of the turtle.
2006 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Program No. 726.
- Littlefield,
T.E. ('06) and Dearworth, J.R., Jr. (2006). The pupillary
response to light in the enucleated eye of the turtle. Journal of
the
As part of her independent
study project, Erin Brune ('05, BS, Biology), inserts
a turtle into a light-integrating sphere to measure the consensual pupillary light response.
- Dearworth,
J.R., Jr., McGee, C. ('05) and Cooper, L.J. ('07) (2005). Neural control
of the pupillary light response in the turtle.
2005 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Program No. 507.12.
- Brune,
E.E. ('05), Fenton, S.B. ('05), and Dearworth, J.R., Jr. (2005). The
consensual pupillary light response in the
turtle. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 78;
105 (Abstract).
- Dearworth,
J.R., Jr. and Gamlin, P.D.R. (2002). Periarcuate cortex neurons sensitive to rapidly
approaching targets. 2002 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Program
number 56.12.
- Dearworth,
J.R. and Cooper ('07), L.J. Sympathetic influence of the pupillary light response in the red-eared slider
turtle, (Trachemys scripta elegans). Veterinary
Ophthalmology. (Currently, under peer review).
- Dearworth, J.R., Cooper ('07), L.J., and McGee ('06), C. (2007). Parasympathetic control of the pupillary light response in the red-eared slider turtle, (Pseudemys scripta elegans). Veterinary Ophthalmology 10(2), 106-110.
- Granda,
A.M., Dearworth, J.R., Jr.,
3. Sensory processes in the
retina also initiate
more complicated behaviors. In humans
and other frontal eyed animals, these include vergence
eye movements, the eye movements used for tracking targets moving in depth. Eyes converge to track targets moving inward
and diverge to track targets moving away.
- Dearworth, J.R., Jr., R.C. Davison, and P.D.R. Gamlin.
(2004). Vergence target selection in rhesus
monkeys: behavior and modeling, Society
for Neuroscience, Vol. 30 (Program number 378.7), (Abstract).
- Dearworth, J.R., Jr., Li, X., and Gamlin,
P.D.R. (2001). Primate frontal cortex contains neurons that respond
to motion-in-depth stimuli. Society for Neuroscience, 27
(Program number 165.28), (Abstract).
http://sfn.scholarone.com/itin2001/
- Dearworth, J.R., Jr., Li., X., Davison, R.C., and Gamlin, P.D.R.
(2001). Target selection of
transient vergence eye movements in the Rhesus
monkey. [ARVO Abstract]. Investigative
Ophthalmology & Visual Science 42 (4), S622.
- Dearworth, J.R., Jr., Davison, R.C., Li., X., and Gamlin, P.D.R. (2005). Vergence
target selection in rhesus monkeys: behavior and modeling. Vision
Research 45(6): 731-747.
4. I design my courses so that
students are given a practical hands-on approach. These include performing laboratory exercises,
critiquing primary literature sources, and designing research projects.
- Mead, K., Dearworth, J., Grisham, W., Herin,
G.A., Jarrard, H., Paul, C.A., Waldeck, R., Yates, J., and Young, J. (2007). IFEL TOUR: A Description of the
Introduction to FUN Electrophysiology Labs Workshop at
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