About
Professional Summary
In brief, I consider myself as an educator and researcher in the area of comparative physiology with an emphasis in neurobiology. Additionally, I enjoy outreaching activities with middle and high school science teachers as well as their students and the public. The accomplishments in regards to research have mainly focused more recently on modulation of synaptic transmission and behaviors using invertebrate models (crayfish and Drosophila). My lab group took a slight deviation the last few years off into the world of pharmacological identification of receptor subtypes of modulators on the larval Drosophila heart. In both research areas we have been productive with publications in the realm of comparative physiology.
As for teaching and instruction, my major accomplishments have been developing and publishing a number of articles for laboratory exercises in physiology and neurophysiology techniques which are used around the globe as indicated by the downloaded log and communications with fellow instructors. Developing wet labs for the physiology course in 2011 at Univ. of Kentucky, which had been devoid of a wet lab for years, as well as developing a neurophysiology lab based course has been rewarding and productive. Student feedback and productivity in developing published exercises as well as developing authentic scientific inquiry based research exercises for the students have resulted in student authored manuscripts submitted for peer review.
In the outreaching with middle and high school students as well as teachers is another proud accomplishment. I developed an ISEF Science fair which incorporated a 1/3 of the State of Kentucky and was the director for 5 years. I have worked with students and teachers to develop state wide Science based activities. I served as president of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences and president of the board for the State Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF- affiliated). High school students I have personally mentored have won international awards at ISEF (2nd and 4th places as well as special awards). Through grant funded activities I have worked with teachers throughout the state of Kentucky and have built relationships in which those students (NSF-REUs) and teachers (NSF-RETs) have later come to work in my research group when attending the university.
In serving our undergraduate and graduate students at the university in research based activities, my group has been very productive in publishing with undergraduates as 1st or co-authors (>60 papers) and functioning as a team for research productivity (>200 papers total). Graduate students (PhD & MS) have been successfully in obtaining good postdoctoral positions or forms of employment. I strongly encourage students to attend local, national and international meetings to present their research and interact with faculty and students at other institutions (>650 abstracts for posters or oral presentations since at the Univ. of Kentucky).
Education
Academic Background-
Ph.D. Texas Tech University, Texas, USA Physiology | Completed: 1989
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B.S. Texas Tech University, Texas, USA Chemistry, Zoology | Completed: 1983
Publications (174)
Selected Scholarly Contributions
The Effects of Ca2+ on Membrane Potential with Altered Function of NALCN and K2P Channels
2026
Influence of Mediating K2P and NALCN Channel Function on Cardiac Pacing with Alterations in Ionic Concentrations, Temperature and Expression
2026
The Effects of CuSO4 on Membrane Potential and Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission
2026
Do Magnesium Ions Have Similar Effects as Calcium Ions on Resting Membrane Potential?
2026
Effects of Altered K2p, Mid 1 and NALCN Expression on Membrane Potential During Exposure to Various Extracellular K+ Concentrations
2025
2025
Physiological Effects of Sodium Selenite on Behavior, Cardiac, Neural and Synaptic Functions in Drosophila, Crayfish and Crab
2025
Direct Effects of Various Bacterial Toxins (LPS & LTA) on Membrane Potential in a Drosophila Model
2025
2025
The Effects of Overexpressing K2p Channels in Various Tissues on Physiology and Behaviors
2025
2024
The effects of doxapram and its potential interactions with K2P channels in experimental model preparations
2024
2024
2023
Effect of 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl Borate (2-APB) on Heart Rate and Relation with Suppressed Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels: Larval Drosophila Model
2023
The effects of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial toxins (LTA & LPS) on cardiac function in Drosophila melanogaster larvae
2023
The Effects of Doxapram Blocking the Response of Gram-Negative Bacterial Toxin (LPS) at Glutamatergic Synapses
2023
Effect of Doxapram, a K2p Channel Blocker, and pH on Heart Rate: Larval Drosophila Model
2023
Investigation Regarding the Physiological Effects of Zinc on Drosophila and Crawfish Cardiac, Neural, Synaptic and Behavioral Processes
2023
The Effects of Lithium on Proprioceptive Sensory Function and Nerve Conduction
2023
2022
Glia Excitation in the CNS Modulates Intact Behaviors and Sensory-CNS-Motor Circuitry
2022
2022
Impedance Measures for Detecting Electrical Responses during Acute Injury and Exposure of Compounds to Roots of Plants
2022
Measuring Electrical Responses during Acute Exposure of Roots and Rhizoids of Plants to Compounds Using a Flow-Through System
2022
Building bridges: mycelium–mediated plant–plant electrophysiological communication
2022
Hyperpolarization Induced by Lipopolysaccharides but Not by Chloroform Is Inhibited by Doxapram, an Inhibitor of Two-P-Domain K+ Channel (K2P)
2022
Effect of Temperature on Heart Rate for Lucilia sericata (syn Phaenicia sericata) and Drosophila melanogaster with Altered Expression of the TrpA1 Receptors
2021
Rapid and Direct Action of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Skeletal Muscle of Larval Drosophila
2021
The effect of calcium ions on mechanosensation and neuronal activity in proprioceptive neurons.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2021
Mechanosensitive proteins in regulating heart rate in Larval drosophila.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2021
The effect of optogenetically activating glia on neuronal function.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2021
Bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide enhances synaptic transmission at low-output glutamatergic synapses.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2021
The effects of tricaine mesylate on arthropods: crayfish, crab and Drosophila
2020
Regional Phenotypic Differences of the Opener Muscle in Procambarus clarkii: Sarcomere Length, Fiber Diameter, and Force Development
2020
The Effect of Bacterial Endotoxin LPS on Serotonergic Modulation of Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission
2020
Effect of pH on synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction in drosophila melanogaster.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2020
Impedance measures and a mounting technique for drosophila: larval movements, heart rate, imaging, and electrophysiology.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2020
Assessment of bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) potential interaction and TRPA1 thermal receptors on synaptic transmission.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2020
Repetitive exposure to bacterial endotoxin LPS alters synaptic transmission.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2020
2020
The effects of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) on cardiac and synaptic function in various animal models: Larval Drosophila, crayfish, crab, and rodent.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2020
2019
Effects of inhibiting mTOR with rapamycin on behavior, development, neuromuscular physiology, and cardiac function in larval Drosophila
2019
The effects of bacterial endotoxin LPS on synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction
2019
The Effects of a Bacterial Endotoxin on Behavior and Sensory-CNS-Motor Circuits in Drosophila melanogaster
2019
2019
Effects of bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junction in an amphibian.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2019
Pharmacological identification of cholinergic receptor subtypes: Modulation of locomotion and neural circuit excitability in Drosophila larvae.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2019
Mechanical and chemical factors required for maintaining cardiac rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster larva.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2019
An educational model for understanding acute deep tissue injury of motor units: Common lab exercises with a new twist.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2019
The effects of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) on cardiac function in a medicinal blow fly (Phaenicia sericata) and a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster).
Robin Lewis Cooper
2019
Hyperpolarization by activation of halorhodopsin results in enhanced synaptic transmission: Neuromuscular junction and CNS circuit
2018
Physiological Changes as a Measure of Crustacean Welfare under Different Standardized Stunning Techniques: Cooling and Electroshock
2018
Cold exposure effects on cardiac function and synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction in invertebrates.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2018
A novel educational module to teach neural circuits for college and high school students: NGSS-neurons, genetics, and selective stimulations
2017
Considerations in repetitive activation of light sensitive ion channels for long-term studies: Channel rhodopsin in the Drosophila model.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2017
The effect of CO2, intracellular pH and extracellular pH on mechanosensory proprioceptor responses in crayfish and crab.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2017
The effects of potassium and muscle homogenate on proprioceptive responses in crayfish and crab.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2017
Using optogenetics to assess neuroendocrine modulation of heart rate in Drosophila melanogaster larvae.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2017
Population dynamics based on resource availability and founding effects: Live and computational models.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2016
Modulatory effects on Drosophila larva hearts: Room temperature, acute and chronic cold stress.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2016
New insights into the acute actions from a high dosage of fluoxetine on neuronal and cardiac function: Drosophila, crayfish and rodent models.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2015
Pharmacological identification of cholinergic receptor subtypes on Drosophila melanogaster larval heart.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2015
Lights and larvae: Using optogenetics to teach recombinant DNA and neurobiology.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2014
Anatomical and genotype-specific mechanosensory responses in Drosophila melanogaster larvae.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2014
Analysis of various physiological salines for heart rate, CNS function, and synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions in Drosophila melanogaster larvae.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2014
Pharmacological and genetic identification of serotonin receptor subtypes on Drosophila larval heart and aorta.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2014
Motor nerve terminal morphology with unloading and reloading of muscle in Procambarus clarkii.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2013
DREADDs in Drosophila: A pharmacogenetic approach for controlling behavior, neuronal signaling and physiology in the fly.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2013
5-HT stimulation of heart rate in Drosophila does not act through cAMP as revealed by pharmacogenetics.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2013
Sensory systems and environmental change on behavior during social interactions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2013
The mechanistic action of carbon dioxide on a neural circuit and NMJ communication.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2013
Physiological separation of vesicle pools in low- and high-output nerve terminals.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2013
Comparative study of environmental factors influencing motor task learning and memory retention in sighted and blind crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2013
The acute and chronic effect of low temperature on survival, heart rate and neural function in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) species.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2012
Role of serotonin in the regulation of synaptic transmission in invertebrate NMJs.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2012
The regulation and packaging of synaptic vesicles as related to recruitment within glutamatergic synapses.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2012
Heart and ventilatory measures in crayfish during copulation.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2011
Structure/Function assessment of crayfish neuromuscular junctions: Stem regions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2011
The effects of acute carbon dioxide on behavior and physiology in Procambarus clarkia.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2010
Actions of NCX, PMCA and SERCA on short-term facilitation and maintenance of transmission in nerve terminals.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2010
Roles of the sarcoplasmic/Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in regulation of heart rate in larval Drosophila.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2010
Effects of cadmium and body mass on the anti-predator behaviors of five species of crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2010
Different mechanisms of Ca2+ regulation that influence synaptic transmission: Comparison between crayfish and Drosophila neuromuscular junctions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2009
Reduced and misexpression of 5-HT2 receptors alters development, behavior and CNS activity in Drosophila melanogaster.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2009
Assessment of synaptic function during short-term facilitation in motor nerve terminals in the crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2008
Mapping proprioceptive neurons on chordotonal organs in the crab, Cancer magister.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2008
Presynaptic depression in phasic motor nerve terminals and influence of 5-HT on docked vesicles.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2008
Reduced calcium channel function in drosophila disrupts associative learning in larva and behavior in adults.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2008
Automated classification of evoked quantal events.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2007
Influence of p-CPA and MDMA (ecatasy) on physiology, development and behavior in Drosophila melanogaster.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2007
Modification of the tail flip escape response in crayfish by neuromodulation and behavioral state with and without descending CNS input.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2007
Direct influence of serotonin on the larval heart of Drosophila melanogaster.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2006
Direct innervation of the Drosophila melanogaster larval aorta.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2006
Evidence for an autonomic nervous system in decapod crustaceans.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2006
2006
Regulation of synaptic vesicles pools within motor nerve terminals during short-term facilitation and neuromodulation.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2006
Developmental consequences of NMJs with reduced presynaptic calcium channel function.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2005
Presynaptic mechanism of action induced by 5-HT in nerve terminals: Possible involvement of ryanodine and IP3 sensitive Ca2+ stores.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2005
The pharmacological and physiological profile of glutamate receptors at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2005
The physiological and behavioral effects of carbon dioxide on Drosophila melanogaster larvae.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2005
Monitoring activity of Drosophila larvae: Impedance and video microscopy measures.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
Novelty stress and reproductive state alters responsiveness to sensory stimuli and 5-HT neuromodulation.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
Monitoring heart rate in Drosophila larvae by various approaches.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
Monitoring carbon dioxide production by Drosophila larvae.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
Growth of troglobitic (Orconectes australis packardi) and epigean (Oroconectes juvenilis) species of crayfish maintained in laboratory conditions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
5-HT offsets homeostasis of synaptic transmission during short-term facilitation.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
Actions of MDMA at glutamatergic neuromuscular junctions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
Modulation of sensory-CNS-motor circuits by serotonin, octopamine and dopamine in semi-intact Drosophila larva.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2004
The effects of serotonin and ecdysone on primary sensory neurons in crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Modulatory effects of melatonin on behavior, hemolymph metabolites and neurotransmitter release in crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Effects of m-CPP in altering neuronal function: Blocking depolarization in invertebrate motor and sensory neurons but exciting rat sensory neurons.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Intrinsic differences in sensitivity to 5-HT between high- and low-output terminals innervating the same target.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Characterization of development, behavior and neuromuscular physiology in the phorid fly: Megaselia scalaris.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Activity of the ventilatory muscles in the crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
A hundred years ago and now: A short essay on the study of the crustacean hindgut.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Comparisons of aesthetasc sensilla on the lateral antennules between two epigean (surface) species and the blind cave crayfish Orconectes australis packardi.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Determining the number of release sites within the nerve terminal by statistical analysis of synaptic current characteristics.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
Long-term in vitro maintenance of neuromuscular junction activity of Drosophila larvae.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2003
The effect of ambient light on blind cave crayfish: Social interactions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
Heart and ventilatory correlative measures in crayfish during environmental disturbances and social interactions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
Development of Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions: Maintaining synaptic strength.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
Sodium in presynaptic nerve terminals in response to stimulation.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
Sphingosine 1-phosphate enhances spontaneous transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
Physiologically identified 5-HT2 -like receptors at the crayfish neuromuscular junction.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
Myofibrillar protein isoform expression is correlated with synaptic efficacy in slow fibres of the claw and leg opener muscles of crayfish and lobster.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
The effects of ethanol on pre-synaptic components of synaptic transmission in a model glutamatergic synapse: The crayfish neuromuscular junction.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2002
Anatomical comparisons of neural systems in sighted epigean and troglobitic crayfish species.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Alterations in development, behavior, and physiology in Drosophila larva that have reduced ecdysone production.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Alterations in habituation of the tail flip response in epigean and troglobitic crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Effects of octopamine, serotonin and cocktails of the two modulators on synaptic transmission at crustacean neuromuscular junctions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Altered responsiveness to 5-HT at the crayfish neuromuscular junction due to chronic p-CPA and m-CPP treatment.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Spatial familiarity in the blind cave crayfish, Orconectes australis packardi.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Maintaining synaptic efficacy at the neuromuscular junction in Drosophila larva during normal development and prolonged life with the ecdysoneless mutant.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Muscle phenotype remains unaltered after limb autotomy and unloading.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2001
Influence of serotonin on the kinetics of vesicular release.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Heart rate measures in blind cave crayfish during environmental disturbances and social interactions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Heart rate within male crayfish: Social interactions and effects of 5-HT.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Statistical methods for assessing the dimensions of synaptic vesicles in nerve terminals.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
The effects of 5-HT on sensory, central and motor neurons driving the abdominal superficial flexor muscles in the crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Sensitivity of transformed (phasic to tonic) motor neurons to the neuromodulator 5-HT.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Assessing accurate sizes of synaptic vesicles in nerve terminals.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
The anatomical, physiological and biochemical characterization of muscles associated with the articulating membrane in the dorsal surface of the crayfish abdomen.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Muscle type-specific myosin isoforms in crustacean muscles.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Differential facilitation of high- and low-output nerve terminals from a single motoneuron.
Robin Lewis Cooper
2000
Role of α-SNAP in promoting efficient neurotransmission at the crayfish neuromuscular junction.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1999
Importance of stimulation paradigm in determining facilitation and effects of neuromodulation.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1999
Dopaminergic modulation of motor neuron activity and neuromuscular function in Drosophila melanogaster.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1999
Quantification of responses from proprioceptive neurons in the limbs of the crab, Cancer magister.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1999
Depression of synaptic efficacy in Drosophila neuromuscular junctions by the molting hormone (20-HE).
Robin Lewis Cooper
1999
GABA transporters in Drosophila melanogaster: : molecular cloning, behavior and physiology.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1998
Development of sensory processes during limb regeneration in adult crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1998
Activity of phasic motor neurons partially transforms the neuronal and muscle phenotype to a tonic-like state.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1998
Depression of synaptic efficacy at intermolt in crayfish neuromuscular junctions by 20-Hydroxyecdysone, a molting hormone.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1998
Quantitative measurement of islet glucagon response to hypoglycemia by confocal fluorescence imaging in diabetic rats.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1997
Differential physiology and morphology of phasic and tonic motor axons in a crayfish limb extensor muscle.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1997
Synaptic structural complexity as a factor enhancing probability of calcium-mediated transmitter release.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1996
Expression profiling of mRNA obtained from single identified crustacean motor neurons: Determination of specificity of hybridization.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1996
Quantal release at visualized terminals of crayfish motor axon: Intraterminal and regional differences.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1996
Synaptic diversity and differentiation: Crustacean neuromuscular junctions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1996
Red pepper induced dermatitis in breast fed infants.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1996
Assessing ultrastructure of crustacean and insect neuromuscular junctions.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1996
Quantal measurement and analysis methods compared for crayfish and Drosophila neuromuscular junctions and rat hippocampus.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1995
Synaptotagmin-like expression in the motor nerve terminals of crayfish.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1995
Synaptic differentiation of a single motor neuron: Conjoint definition of transmitter release, presynaptic calcium signals and ultrastructure.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1995
Functional and structural parallels in crustacean and Drosophila neuromuscular systems.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1995
Responses of the bender apodeme tension receptors in the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1994
Regeneration and molting effects on a proprioceptor organ in the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1994
Anterograde and retrograde effects of synapse formation on calcium currents and neurite outgrowth in cultured leech neurons.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1992
Synaptogenesis and calcium current distribution in cultured leech neurons.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1992
Axon composition of the proprioceptive PD nerve during growth and regeneration of lobster claws.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1991
Chronic exposure to carbon monoxide at high altitude: Effects on mean electrical axis.
Robin Lewis Cooper
1989
Stability of the Cu(II)-S bond in mercapto amino acid complexes of [2,2'2'' Tris(dimethylamino) triethylamine] copper(II) and [Tris (2-pyridylmethyl) amine] copper(II).
Robin Lewis Cooper
1985