University of Pennsylvania · NeuroscienceSeizure and Cognitive Function Lab
Frances E Jensen · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Frances E. Jensen's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how seizures affect brain function and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's. The research explores the relationship between seizure activity in early life and its effects on cognitive abilities and synaptic connections throughout life. By studying animal models and human brain tissue, the lab aims to find new ways to treat or prevent cognitive decline associated with seizures and neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer's Diseaseseizuressynaptic dysplasticitytau proteinneurodegenerationneurodevelopmental disordersglutamate signalinghyperexcitabilitytherapeuticsbrain models
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the effects of early life seizures on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function in rodent models.
AIM 02Determine how seizure-induced changes affect tau protein accumulation in Alzheimer's disease.
AIM 03Assess therapeutic interventions to mitigate cognitive decline following early life seizures.
AIM 04Analyze gene and protein expression changes in neurons activated by seizures over time.
AIM 05Evaluate the relationship between epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease in human tissue samples.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsgene expression analysisimmunohistochemistryWestern blotbehavioral testingfluorescence microscopymolecular biology techniquesdata processing with Pythontissue analysis
Output against the department
Publications164top 45% of dept.303rd of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations12ktop 33% of dept.221st 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.