Biophysics, epilepsy and the brain

A week in the life of Sonya Bahar she describes as "frantic running from Sunday night until Friday night". Bahar is a woman who has truly learned the meaning to the words 'multi task.'

This may be because she is the assistant professor of biophysics, the director for the Center of Neurodynamics, the editor of both The Journal of Biological Physics and The Biological Physicist, teacher of Physics 1011 and 1012 as well as a graduate Chaos Theory class.

She is currently a researcher of synchronization in mammalian neural systems as well as the biophysics of brain activity.

All things science consume most of Bahar's everyday life.

She mainly focuses on the synchronization of neurons in the brain, in order to make new breakthroughs in the study of epilepsy, a neurological disorder which causes unprovoked seizures.

In an interview, Bahar described what her research focuses on and how this research could, in the future, help prevent seizures.

"Basically the main theme of what we are doing is to look at how neurons behave and to do that both experimentally with real neuroscience lab research but also [by applying] physics techniques." Bahar explained

Essentially, Bahar and some select graduate students (including Roxana Contreras), use brain imaging data from groups at Washington University and St. Louis University in their research of the brain, and then interpret the results using physics techniques.

Since the human brain is so complex, Bahar attempted to explain her research in laymen's terms, beginning with neurons.

"[In the brain] neurons are all coupled to each other. Each neuron gives periodic electrical signals, but then each neuron is coupled to a lot of other neurons as well. So they gave their little signals… but they also give signals to each other." Bahar said.

"So then we have a very complex system where you have lots of interconnected neurons that are all talking to each other. And the way they talk to each other, or signal to each other is really important both for normal thought processes and for disease," Bahar went on to say.

"So when neurons all regularly fire at the same time, they are synchronizing with each other. [When neurons are] all firing and then all silent, all firing and then all silent... that's called being synchronized, and that's in laymen's terms. There are more mathematical definitions for that of course", Bahar said

"When neurons synchronize with each other that can be a very good thing" Bahar explained, "but it can also be dangerous."

To clarify this further, Bahar explained why the synchronization of neurons can be both a bad and a good thing, seemingly simultaneously.

"The general theory for what happens during an epileptic seizure is that a large group of neurons in one region of the brain all get abnormally synchronized with each other", Bahar said.

"[However] in the phenomenon of attention, there are actually increases in brain synchronization," she said. "There are theories that even consciousness itself relates to the synchronization of neurons."

As confusing and complex as this may sound, Bahar attests that her research is essentially "all basic science."

"The epilepsy part" said Bahar, "is basically trying to understand what makes the brain get synchronized and also what makes the brain stop being synchronized at the end of a seizure."

Bahar explained that her ultimate goal would be to use her research of neuron synchronization to help develop new ways to prevent seizures.

Bernard Feldman, another professor of science here at UM-St. Louis, applauds the work that Bahar has done during her research of epilepsy.

"Her work on imaging of the brain during epileptic seizures is a wonderful combination of exciting, cutting edge science and developing new medical techniques to understand and treat epilepsy," Feldman said

Dr. Feldman however is not the only person who has recognized the importance of Bahar's research.

This year, Bahar will receive the 2008 Innovation Award from the Academy of Science in St. Louis. In addition, she has already received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, an award which brought her from St. Louis to the White House.

Despite the recognition, Bahar continues to look to the future and remains humble.

"I could certainly make a list of 10 million more scientific things that feel I haven't gotten done yet," Bahar admitted.

"I really won't be satisfied with myself until I can do all of these other things," she said.

In regards to her epilepsy research Bahar realizes it may take a decade or two before it could help anyone.

"I am proud of the work that I have done, but I am very much aware of the ways in which I want to do more work, and work at a higher level then what I have achieved so far," said Bahar.

Of course, at 39 years young and moving at the rate she is going, there is no doubt that Sonya Bahar will in the future achieve more than even she would have thought scientifically feasible.