Aryn Gittis

Dr. Aryn Gittis is the Dr. Frederick A. Schwertz Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on synaptic physiology, optogenetics, behavior, and mechanisms of circuit dysfunction in movement disorders. She investigates how neural circuits in the basal ganglia are altered by experience and why certain circuits break down in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and dystonia. Her laboratory employs techniques including electrophysiology, optogenetics, histology, and behavior, using mice as a model organism to study motor control in health and disease.

Aryn Gittis is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, specializing in Neuroscience. Her research focuses on the functional roles of GABAergic interneurons and striatal microcircuitry in movement disorders. She investigates how specific neuronal pathways, such as those involving the external globus pallidus (GPe) and striatal fast-spiking interneurons, contribute to motor control and dyskinesias. Her work also explores the impact of dopamine depletion on neural circuits and the potential of neuromodulation for therapeutic interventions. Gittis's studies integrate electrophysiology, optogenetics, and computational modeling to understand basal ganglia dynamics in health and disease.