Research Areas
Neuronal Circuits
Some neurons have axons that extend to other brain regions, thus sending critical information across the brain. We examine the function of these circuits in order to gain a better understanding of the basic neurobiology, as well as understanding how these circuits are remodeled in neuropsychiatric disease.
Projects
Role of lateral entorhinal cortex projections to nucleus accumbens in motivated behavior
We seek to understand how lateral entorhinal cortex neurons that send projections to the nucleus accumbens are involved in the formation of memories that underlie drug seeking.
Cocaine regulation of endoplasmic reticulum calcium in ventral hippocampus neurons
We have identified that cocaine upregulates and ER chaperone protein, calreticulin, in ventral hippocampus neurons. We are now using ex vivo calcium imaging to specifically look at how cocaine affects ER function, including ER calcium storage and release, as well ER stress.
