University of Iowa · NeuroscienceSerotonin and Seizure Dynamics Lab
George B Richerson · Iowa City, Iowa
Research Focus
Dr. George B Richerson's lab at the University of Iowa focuses on understanding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), particularly how seizures can disrupt the body's ability to regulate breathing. By studying the role of serotonin neurons and carbon dioxide (CO2) chemoreception, the lab aims to discover mechanisms that increase the risk of seizure-induced respiratory arrest. The research also explores how dietary supplements like milk whey may lower the chance of SUDEP by enhancing serotonin function.
SUDEPserotoninCO2 chemoreceptionrespiratory controlseizureselectroencephalographymouse modelsdietary supplementationbrainstem functionapnea
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how seizures impair CO2 chemoreception and lead to fatal respiratory apnea.
AIM 02Examine the impact of serotonin dysfunction on breathing post-seizures.
AIM 03Determine how milk whey supplementation can prevent SUDEP and its mechanisms.
Skills the Lab Values
EEG monitoringECG monitoringplethysmographyvideo monitoringmouse modelsdietary interventionneuropharmacologygenetic mouse strainsdata acquisitionanatomical neuroimaging
Output against the department
Publications184top 40% of dept.270th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations12ktop 33% of dept.223rd of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.