The hippocampus is known to play a key role in the consolidation of memory and research has focused on the changes in membrane excitability that occur during the creation of memories. Neuronal excitability is regulated by the activation of both voltage- and calcium-dependent potassium currents. The Marrion laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach to study how voltage-dependent potassium channels are activated and the functional relationship between ion channel subtypes that controls activation of calcium-activated potassium channels. The laboratory is actively pursuing the role of heteromeric channels undrlying the slow afterhypolarization in cortical and hippocampal neurons.The understanding that learning and memory consolidation are controlled by the excitability of the CNS neurons has revolutionized our approach to disease states such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. The Marrion laboratory is contributing to this understanding tby investigating the role of expression of tau protein isoforms in activation of calcium-activated potassium channels that regulate membrane excitability in hippocampal neurons.