Synapses are highly specialized sites of contact consisting of a pre- and postsynaptic side. They are the fundamental units of information transfer between nerve cells. Research in our laboratory focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptic function. Understanding the most complex problems in synaptic biology requires multidisciplinary approaches which allow for precise quantitative measurements. To do so, we combine electrophysiological, Ca2+ imaging, biophysical and morphological methods in conjunction with molecular perturbations using recombinant viral vectors to study interactions among key synaptic proteins in modulating synaptic transmission, plasticity, development and maintenance.