Kevin Bender is professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. His lab focuses on understanding how the brain encodes information at the synaptic, cellular and network level. Work primarily revolves around understanding how ion channels and modulation of ion channels contribute to these processes in health and in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions. This includes studies related to neurodevelopmental channelopathies, for which he is grateful to be able to work with close colleagues and partners from academia, industry and patient advocacy groups.
Kevin Bender
Professor of neurology
University of California, San Francisco
From this contributor
Should I work with these people? A guide to collaboration
By
Kevin Bender
10 September 2024 | 7 min read
Selected articles
- “Impaired cerebellar plasticity hypersensitizes sensory reflexes in SCN2A-associated ASD” | Neuron
- “Physical and functional convergence of the autism risk genes Scn2a and Ank2 in neocortical pyramidal cell dendrites” | Neuron
- “Arrestin-3 Agonism at Dopamine D3 Receptors Defines a Subclass of Second-Generation Antipsychotics That Promotes Drug Tolerance” | Biological Psychiatry
- “The Autism-Associated Gene Scn2a Contributes to Dendritic Excitability and Synaptic Function in the Prefrontal Cortex” | Neuron
- “Periadolescent Maturation of GABAergic Hyperpolarization at the Axon Initial Segment” | Cell Reports
Explore more from The Transmitter
Cell ‘antennae’ link autism, congenital heart disease
Variants in genes tied to both conditions derail the formation of cilia, the tiny hair-like structure found on almost every cell in the body, a new study finds.
Cell ‘antennae’ link autism, congenital heart disease
Variants in genes tied to both conditions derail the formation of cilia, the tiny hair-like structure found on almost every cell in the body, a new study finds.
By
Lauren Schenkman
24 July 2025 | 4 min listen
How to build a truly global computational neuroscience community
Computational sciences offer an opportunity to increase global access to, and participation in, neuroscience. Neuromatch’s inclusive, scalable model for community building shows how to realize this promise.
How to build a truly global computational neuroscience community
Computational sciences offer an opportunity to increase global access to, and participation in, neuroscience. Neuromatch’s inclusive, scalable model for community building shows how to realize this promise.
By
Megan Peters, Bradley Roberts
23 July 2025 | 9 min listen
This paper changed my life: Victoria Abraira on a tasty link between circuits and behavior
The findings from Charles Zuker’s lab put the taste system on the map, revealing that some fundamental principles of behavior are hardwired.
This paper changed my life: Victoria Abraira on a tasty link between circuits and behavior
The findings from Charles Zuker’s lab put the taste system on the map, revealing that some fundamental principles of behavior are hardwired.
By
Victoria Abraira
22 July 2025 | 5 min listen