Scientific Meetings


International Congress of Neuroethology, Brisbane, Australia, July 15-20, 2018

French, A.S. and Pfeiffer, K. (2018) Naturalistic stimulation increases high frequency sensitivity in spider mechanosensory neurons.

Torkkeli, P.H., Johnson, J.A.G., Liu, H., Sivapalan, K. and French, A.S. (2018) Is Piezo protein the mechanotransduction channel in spider Cupiennius salei mechanosensilla?


H3 Symposium - Sensory Transduction in Insects, London, UK, December 7, 2017

French, A.S. (2017) Speed of smell – The dynamics of insect olfaction.


16th Invertebrate Sound and Vibration - Rauischholzhausen, Germany, September 14-17, 2017

French, A.S. and Pfeiffer, K. (2017) Naturalistic stimulation changes the dynamic response of a rapidly adapting spider mechanoreceptor.

Torkkeli, P.H., Liu, H., Johnson, J.A.G., DePalma, A.V. and French, A.S. (2017) Transcriptome-based investigation of transmitters and receptors involved in synaptic modulation of spider mechanotransduction.


Society for Neuroscience - Chicago, October 17-21, 2015

French, A.S., Torkkeli, P.H., Meisner, S., Liu, H., Immonen, E.-V., Frolov, R. and Weckström, M. (2015) Molecular and functional characterization of opsins and TRP channels in compound eyes of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. Program No. 58.21. 2015 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2015. Online.

Torkkeli, P.H., Sukumar, V., Meisner, S., Panek, I. and French, A.S. (2015) Spider, Cupiennius salei, mechanosensory neurons have multiple biogenic amine receptor types, including constitutively active receptors. Program No. 205.11. 2015 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2015. Online.


International Congress of Neuroethology - Sapporo, Japan, July 28-August 1, 2014

French, A.S., Li, A.W., Meisner, S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2014) The transcriptome of the spider Cupiennius salei peripheral nervous system - identifying genes involved in mechanosensation

Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (2014) The CYS-loop ligand-gated ion channel gene family of the spider Cupiennius salei nervous system


Society for Neuroscience - New Orleans, October 12-18, 2012

French, A.S., Meisner, S., Lowe, J. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2012) Dynamic characterization of carbon dioxide transduction in Drosophila melanogaster antennal olfactory sensilla. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 174.04

Torkkeli P.H. Meisner, S. and French A.S. (2012) Ionotropic GABA and glutamate receptors have different effects on excitability and are differentially regulated by calcium in spider mechanosensory neurons. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 136.21


International Brain Research Organization 8th World Congress - Florence Italy, July 14-18, 2011

French, A.S., Torkkeli, P.H. and Schuckel, J. (2011) Dynamic properties of multiple olfactory neurons in Drosophila antennal basiconic sensilla


Ninth Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society March 23-27, 2011

Pfeiffer, K., Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (2011) Information transmission is limited by entropy in spider mechanoreceptors.


Physiological Society Cross-Themed Meeting on Mechanosensitivity, Durham, December 15-17, 2010


International Chemosensory Workshop on Insects XXXIII - Kona, Hawaii, November 1-4, 2009

French, A.S., Schuckel. J. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2009) Olfactory dynamics - measurement and interpretation.


International Union of Physiological Sciences, Kyoto Japan - July 27-August 1, 2009

French, A.S., Höger, U., Meisner, S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2009) Calcium-based negative feedback on sensory transduction in spider mechanoreceptors.

Torkkeli, P.H., Pfeiffer, K., Meisner, S. and French, A.S. (2009) Long and short term effects of glutamate on spider mechanosensory neurons during random stimulation.


University of Oulu 8th Conferment Ceremony - May 15-17, 2009


Canadian Physiological Society Winter Meeting - February 4-7, 2009

French, A.S. Schuckel, J. and Torkkeli, P.H. Excitatory and inhibitory pathways with differing dynamics in Drosophila olfactory receptors


Society for Neuroscience - Washington, November 14-19, 2008

Höger, U., Meisner, S., Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (2008) Regional calcium changes in spider mechanoreceptors during sensory transduction. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 271.2.

Pfeiffer K., Höger U., French A.S. and Torkkeli P.H. (2008) Mechanisms of GABAA receptor mediated excitation of spider mechanosensory neurons. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 271.1.

Schuckel, J., Stengl, M., Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (2008) Dynamic characterization of Drosophila olfactory sensilla by random binary sequence stimulation. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 65.5.


Canadian Physiological Society Winter Meeting - January 23-27, 2008

Pfeiffer, K., Höger U., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. Membrane depolarization and the excitatory action of GABA and muscimol in spider mechanosensory neurons

Schuckel, J., Meisner, S., Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. Controlled dynamic stimulation of Drosophila olfactory receptors


Eighth International Congress of Neuroethology - Vancouver, Canada, July 22-27 2007

Pfeiffer, K., Höger, U., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2007) Excitatory effects of GABAA receptor activation in spider mechanosensory neurons (JPEG)

Schuckel, J., Meisner, S., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2007) Controlled dynamic stimulation of Drosophila olfactory receptors (JPEG)


International Brain Research Organization 7th World Congress - Melbourne, Australia, July 12-17 2007

Höger, U., Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (2007) Ratiometric measurements of calcium concentration during sensory transduction in spider mechanoreceptors (JPEG)

Panek, I., Höger, U., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2007) Effects of voltage-gated conductances and intracellular calcium on the GABA response of spider mechanosensory neurons (JPEG)


11th International Meeting on Invertebrate Sound and Vibration - Scarborough, Ontario, August 8-11 2006

French, A.S. (2006) Locating the sites of sensory transduction and action potential initiation in spider mechanoreceptor neurons.


International Chemosensory Workshop on Insects XXXII - Key West, Florida, January 22-25 2006

French, A.S., Torkkeli, P.H. and Höger, U. (2006) Calcium levels during mechanotransduction in spider slit sensilla.


Society for Neuroscience - Washington, November 12-16, 2005

Höger, U., Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (2005) Calcium concentration changes in spider mechanoreceptors during sensory transduction. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 31: 296.8


9thEuropean Symposium for Insect Taste and Olfaction - September 24-30, 2005 - Villasimius, Italy

Widmer, A., Höger, U., Meisner, S., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2005) Spider peripheral mechanosensory neurons are directly innervated and modulated by octopaminergic efferents.


International Chemosensory Workshop on Insects XXXI - Charleston, South Carolina, February 20-24 2005

French, A.S., Justus, K.A. and Cardé, R.T. (2005) Dynamic properties of moth antennal responses to pheromone.


Canadian Physiological Society Winter Meeting - February 2-6, 2005

Linear and nonlinear analysis of antennal responses to turbulent pheromone plumes in two moth species.


Society for Neuroscience - San Diego, October 23-27, 2004

Widmer, A., Höger, U, Meisner, S., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2004) Immunocytological and electrophysiological characterization of octopamine receptors in spider mechanosensilla. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 30: 870.7

Höger, U. and French, A.S. (2004) Slow adaptation of action potential firing in spider mechanoreceptors. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 30: 870.6.

Appendix to Höger and French poster Small action potentials.


Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Research Day - May 11, 2004

Widmer, A., Höger, U. Meisner, S, French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2004) Octopamine receptors on spider peripheral mechanosensilla


Canadian Physiological Society Winter Meeting - January 28 to February 2, 2004

Meeting Program


Society for Neuroscience - New Orleans, November 7-13, 2003

Gingl, E., Panek, I., Torkkeli, P.H., and French, A.S. (2003) Localization of GABA mediated peripheral inhibition in spider mechanoreceptor neurons. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 29: 269.2.

Widmer, A., Höger, U., Meisner, S., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2003) Muscarinic ACh receptors on spider mechanosensilla. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 29: 269.3.


29th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference June 2003

Gingl, E. and French, A.S. (2003) Conduction of receptor current through the sensory dendrite of a spider mechanoreceptor neuron, 29th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference 352.

Höger, U. and French, A.S. (2003) Extracellular pH modulates receptor current in a spider mechanoreceptor, 29th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference 354.

Juusola, M., Niven, J.E. and French, A.S. (2003) Nonlinear analysis of normal and Shaker K+ channel knockout Drosophila photoreceptors stimulated by white noise and natural light signals, 29th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference 532-533.


Advanced Course in Linear and Nonlinear Systems Analysis - University of Oulu, Finland - April 9-11, 2003

Course Outline


International Chemosensory Workshop on Insects XXX - Kona, Hawaii, January 22-26, 2003

French, A.S. (2003) Mechanotransduction in a spider slit-sense organ.


Society for Neuroscience - Orlando, November 2-7, 2002

Höger, U. and French, A.S. (2002) Acid modulation of receptor current in spider mechanoreceptors. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 28: 60.11


World Congress of Biomechanics - Calgary, August 5-9, 2002

French, A.S. (2002) Sensory transduction in an arthropod mechanoreceptor system


Biomedical Simulations Resource Workshop on Advanced Methods of Physiological System Modeling - Los Angeles, April 20, 2002

Announcement - Final workshop schedule


Society for Neuroscience - San Diego, November 10-15, 2001

Panek, I., French, A.S., Seyfarth, E.-A., Sekizawa, S.-i. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2001) GABAergic modulation of spider mechanosensory afferents. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 27: 156.8

Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (2001) A model of excitability in spider mechanoreceptor neurons confirms that sodium inactivation controls their rapid adaptation. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 27: 820.10

Widmer, A., French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2001) Acetylcholine receptors on cultured antennal cells of the moth Manduca sexta. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 27: 392.11


XXXIV International Congress of Physiological Sciences - Christchurch, New Zealand, August 26-31, 2001

French, A.S. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2001) The ionic basis of rapid sensory adaptation in paired spider mechanoreceptor neurons with different adaptation properties A373

Panek, I. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2001) GABA induced presynaptic inhibition of peripherally located parts of spider cuticular mechanosensory neurons A374


Gordon Research Conference - Gravitational Effects on Living Systems - July 1-6, 2001


28th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference June 2001

Höger, U. and French, A.S. (2001) Mechanotransduction in the spider VS-3 lyriform organ. 28th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference 323.


Society for Neuroscience - New Orleans, November 4-9, 2000

French, A.S., Höger, U.,Sekizawa, S.-i. and Torkkeli, P.H. (2000) Frequency response functions for mechanical and electrical stimulation of a spider slit sense organ. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 26: 66.7.

Torkkeli, P.H., Sekizawa, S.-i and French, A.S. (2000) Inactivation of Na+ currents contributes to the adaptation of paired spider mechanosensory neurons. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 26: 66.8.


Biomedical Engineering Society - Seattle, October 11-14, 2000


International Chemosensory Workshop on Insects XXVIII - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, January 16-22, 2000


Biophysical Society - Baltimore, February 13-18, 1999

Torkkeli, P.H. and French, A.S. (1999) Stretch-activated ion channels in cultured mechanosensory neurons of Manduca sexta. Biophysical Journal 76: A203


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