Thomas Parks, Ph.D.

Vice President for Research

Professor of Neurobiology & Anatomy

George and Lorna Winder Professor of Neuroscience

Executive Director, Brain Institute, University of Utah

(b. 1950); B.S. 1972, University of California at Irvine; Ph.D. 1978, Yale University; Postdoctoral fellow 1977-1978, University of Virginia.

Email: tom.parks@neuro.utah.edu
Office Phone: 801-581-7236

Research

Dr. Parks's main research interest is in developmental neurobiology, particularly of the auditory system. His previous work focused on 1) the cellular and molecular features responsible for the highly specialized functions of brainstem auditory neurons, and 2) the effects of early hearing loss on the brain. His current research interest is in the neurobiology and genetics of auditory processing disorders in humans.

Selected Publications

Search Pubmed for Thomas Park's lab publications

  • Parks, T.N., E.W. Rubel, A.N. Popper and R.R. Fay, Eds. (2004) Plasticity in the Auditory System. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, Vol. 23, Springer-Verlag, New York, 323 pp
  • Rubel, E.W., T. N. Parks and L. Zirpel (2004) Assembling, connecting and innervating the cochlear nucleus. In: Parks, T. N. et al., Eds., op. cit., pp. 8-48.
  • Ryugo, D.K, and T.N. Parks (2003) Primary innervation of the avian and mammalian cochlear nucleus.  Br. Res.Bull. 60:435-456.
  • Sugden, S.G., L. Zirpel, C.J. Dietrich and T.N. Parks. (2002) Development of the specialized AMPA receptors of auditory neurons. Journal of Neurobiology 52:189-202.
  • Zirpel, L., M. A. Janowiak, C. A. Veltri and T. N. Parks. (2000) AMPA receptor-mediated, calcium-dependent CREB phosphorylation in a subpopulation of auditory neurons surviving activity deprivation. Journal of Neuroscience 20:6267-6275.
  • Zirpel, L., M. A. Janowiak, D. A. Taylor and T. N. Parks. (2000) Developmental changes in metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated calcium homeostasis. Journal of Comparative Neurology424:95-106.
  • Parks, T. N. (2000) The AMPA receptors of auditory neurons. Hearing Research 147:77-91.
  • Ravindranathan, A., S. D. Donevan, S. Sugden, A. Greig, M. S. Rao and T. N. Parks. (2000) Contrasting molecular compositions and channel properties of AMPA receptors on chick auditory and brainstem motor neurons. Journal of Physiology 523.3:667-684.
  • Hack, N. J., B. Billups, P. B. Guthrie, J. H. Rogers, E. M. Muir, T. N. Parks, and S. B. Kater. (2000) Green fluorescent protein as a quantitative tool. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 95:177-184.
  • Hack, N. J., M. C. Wride, K. M. Charters, S. B. Kater and T. N. Parks. (2000) Developmental change in the subcellular localization of calretinin. Journal of Neuroscience 20:RC67.
  • Parks, T. N. Cochlear influences on development of central auditory neurons. (1999) In: The Biology of Early Influences; R.L. Hyson and F. Johnson (Eds.), Academic Press pp. 15-34.
  • Parks, T. N., R. A. Code, D. A. Taylor, D. Solum, K. I. Schwartz, D. M. Jacobowitz and L. M. Winsky. (1997) Calretinin expression in the chick brainstem auditory system develops and is maintained independently of cochlear nerve input. Journal of Comparative Neurology 383:112-121.
  • Solum, D., D. Hughes, M. S. Major and T. N. Parks. (1997) Prevention of normally-occurring and deafferentation-induced neuronal death in chick brainstem auditory neurons by periodic blockade of AMPA/kainate receptors. Journal of Neuroscience 17:4744-4751.