Biography
Dr. Shevtsova received a M.S. in Mathematics from Rostov State University, Russia in 1973. In the same year, she joined A. B. Kogan Research Institute for Neurocybernetics at Rostov State University where she worked for many years as a researcher/senior researcher. In 1996, she earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rostov State University. In 1996-1998, she was Research Associate in the laboratory of Dr. James Reggia at the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland. In 2001-2004, she held a Research Associate position in the laboratory of Dr. Ilya Rybak at Drexel University School of Biomedical Engineering. She was also Visiting Scientist in the Laboratory for Analysis and Control of Systems, Le Havre University, France (1994), Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland (2001) and Department of Computer Science of Middlesex University, London, UK (2001). In 2006, Dr. Shevtsova joined the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at Drexel University College of Medicine as Research Assistant Professor.
Research Interests
Shevtsova’s research interests include: computational and mathematical modeling of biological neurons and neural networks, neural oscillations, neural control of respiration and locomotion, visual perception and recognition:
Neurogenesis of the respiratory rhythm and neural control of breathing:
• Network mechanisms for respiratory rhythm generation and pattern formation
• Spatial organization of the brainstem respiratory center
• The role of cellular and network mechanisms in the respiratory rhythm generation
• Control of respiration in normal and disease states
Neurogenesis of the locomotor rhythm and neural control of locomotion:
• Cellular and network mechanisms for locomotor rhythm generation in the mammalian spinal cord. The locomotor central pattern generator (CPG)
• Afferent and supra-spinal control of walking
• Restoration of the locomotor function after spinal cord injury
Vision:
• Neural mechanisms for image processing and feature detection in the visual cortex
• Temporal dynamics of neuronal activity and orientation selectivity in the visual cortex
• Visual image processing, perception, representation and invariant recognition
• Computational modeling of lateralization in visual perception; functional cerebral asymmetries; interhemispheric interactions; effect of and recovery from focal cerebral damages; role of corpus callosum in functional lateralization and in post-stroke recovery
Shevtsova is a key investigator in two major projects supported by the NINDS/NIH: the Bioengineering Research Partnership (BRP) project “Spinal control of locomotion: studies and applications” and Collaborative Research in Computational NeuroScience (CRCNS) project “State-dependent neural mechanisms for respiratory pattern generation”.
Selected Publications
Generation of the respiratory rhythm and neural control of breathing:
"Multiple rhythmic states in a model of the respiratory CPG"
Rubin JE, Shevtsova NA, Ermentrout GB, Smith JC, and Rybak IA
J. Neurophysiol. 2009.
"Reconfiguration of the pontomedullary respiratory network: a computational modeling study with coordinated in vivo experiments"
Rybak IA, O'Connor R, Ross A, Shevtsova NA, Nuding SC, Segers LS, Shannon R, Dick TE, Dunin-Barkowski WL, Orem JM, Solomon I C, Morris KF, and Lindsey BG
J. Neurophysiol. 100:1770-1799, 2008.
"Ionic currents and endogenous rhythm generation in the pre-Bötzinger Complex: Modelling and in vitro studies"
Pierrefiche O, Shevtsova NA, St.-John WM, Paton JFR, and Rybak IA
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 551: 121-126, 2004.
"Modelling respiratory rhythmogenesis. Focus on phase switching mechanisms"
Rybak IA, Shevtsova NA, Paton JFR, Pierrefiche O, St.-John WM, and Haji, A
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 551, 189-194, 2004.
"Modeling the ponto-medullary respiratory network"
Rybak IA, Shevtsova NA, Paton JFR, Dick TE, St-John WM, Mörschel M, and Dutschmann M
Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 143: 307-319, 2004.
"Intrinsic bursting activity in the pre-Bötzinger Complex: Role of persistent sodium and potassium currents"
Rybak IA, Shevtsova NA, Ptak K, and McCrimmon DR
Biol. Cybern. 90: 59-74, 2004.
"Endogenous rhythm generation in the pre-Bötzinger complex and ionic currents: Modelling and in vitro studies"
Rybak IA, Shevtsova NA, St.-John WM, Paton JFR, and Pierrefiche O
Eur. J. Neurosci. 18: 239-257, 2003.
"Sodium currents in neurons from the rostroventrolateral medulla of the rat"
Rybak IA, Ptak K, Shevtsova NA, and McCrimmon DR
J. Neurophysiol. 90: 1635-1642, 2003.
"Computational modeling of bursting pacemaker neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex"
Shevtsova NA, Ptak K, McCrimmon DR, and Rybak IA
Neurocomputing 52-54, 933-942, 2003.
Computational modeling of spinal cord circuits and neural control of locomotion:
"Modelling spinal circuitry involved in locomotor pattern generation: insights from deletions during fictive locomotion"
Rybak IA, Shevtsova NA, Lafreniere-Roula M, and McCrea DA
J. Physiol. Lond. 577(Pt. 2): 617-639, 2006.
"Modelling spinal circuitry involved in locomotor pattern generation: insights from the effects of afferent stimulation"
Rybak IA, Stecina K, Shevtsova NA, and McCrea DA
J. Physiol. Lond. 577(Pt. 2): 641-658, 2006.
Visual perception and recognition:
"Estimation of motion parameters by retina-like neural network model"
Shevtsova NA, Golovan AV, Podladchikova LN, Gusakova VI, Shaposhnikov DG, Faure A
Neurocomputers for Image and Signal Processing. Springer Verlag GmbH, 2009.
"Recognition of traffic signs based on their colour and shape features extracted using human vision models"
Gao XW, Podladchikova LN, Shaposhnikov D, Hong K, and Shevtsova NA
J. Visual Communication and Image Representation 17: 675-685, 2005.
"Attention-guided recognition based on what and where representations: A behavioral model"
Rybak IA, Gusakova VI, Golovan AV, Podladchikova LN, and Shevtsova NA
In: Neurobiology of Attention (Eds. Itti L, Rees G and Tsotsos J). Elsevier Acad. Press, pp. 663-670, 2005.
"Effects of callosal lesions in a model of letter perception"
Shevtsova NA, and Reggia J
Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience 2: 37-51, 2002.
"Interhemispheric effects of simulated lesions in a neural model of letter identification"
Shevtsova NA, and Reggia J
Brain and Cognition 44: 577-603, 2000.
"Lateralization in a bihemispheric neural model of letter identification"
Shevtsova NA, and Reggia J
Neurocomputing 26-27, 875-880, 1999.
"A neural network model of lateralization during letter identification"
Shevtsova NA, and Reggia J
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 11: 167-181, 1999.
"A model of attention-guided visual perception and recognition"
Rybak IA, Gusakova VI, Golovan AV, Podladchikova LN, and Shevtsova NA
Vision Research 38: 2387-2400, 1998. |