About Current Studies

How our questions are currently developing the world of neuroscience

Jose's research explores the intricate relationship between cellular neuromodulation and defensive behavior. Using advanced methodologies—including cell-specific transgenic mouse models, optogenetics, and fiber photometry—his work aims to unravel how neurotransmitter regulation shapes fear responses and behavioral phenotypes. A specialist in electrophysiology and calcium imaging, Jose integrates these techniques with sophisticated behavioral analysis and in vivo cell-type-specific manipulations. His goal is to uncover the cellular mechanisms underlying diverse defensive behaviors and identify potential therapeutic targets for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Jose’s interdisciplinary approach bridges molecular neuroscience with behavioral science, advancing our understanding of trauma-related stress disorders and guiding the development of potential treatments.

Emma is investigating the role of the amygdala–basal forebrain (AMG–BF) circuit in the regulation of sleep and defensive behaviors following stress exposure. Her research explores how cholinergic modulation within this pathway influences the discrimination between threat and neutral stimuli and contributes to resilience or vulnerability to stress-related disorders. By combining optogenetic manipulation, sleep recordings, and behavioral analyses, she aims to elucidate the circuit mechanisms linking sleep regulation to adaptive and maladaptive stress responses. A key objective of this work is to better understand the heterogeneity of symptom expression observed in PTSD, with the long-term goal of informing more personalized and targeted therapeutic strategies.

Daniel's current research broadly covers the effects of neuromodulators on fear memory acquisition. Using chemogenetics, optogenetics, and photometric recording techniques during modified Pavlovian conditioning paradigms, he hopes to manipulate and quantify neuromodulator systems that generate distinct behavioral phenotypes. His recent work has focused on how the activity of the cholinergic system in the basolateral amygdala can lead to maladaptive fear memory acquisition. Daniel’s ultimate goal is to uncover potential interventions in the development of hypervigilance to threat often observed in PTSD.

Kasey is researching the systems involved in behavioral production, with a focus on the circuitry that mediates behavior in the presence of multiple valences. She uses single unit recording and chemogenetic and optogenetic techniques to manipulate the pathways between the central amygdala and nucleus accumbens during a conditioned suppression task. Her overall goal is to uncover mechanisms that can become potential therapeutic targets for treating anxiety-related disorders.

Luisa’s research focuses on the neurobiology of hyperarousal and how psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, influence these processes. She is particularly interested in whether psilocybin modulates key brain regions, such as the central amygdala, to produce its therapeutic effects. By combining miniature microscope (miniscope) calcium imaging with a behavioral paradigm that models trauma-related hyperarousal, Luisa aims to identify the neural circuits that differentiate resilience from vulnerability to trauma. The long-term goal of her work is to uncover the circuits driving trauma-induced hyperarousal and to evaluate emerging treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Maria is investigating the role of noradrenergic circuits in coordinating emotional and hormonal responses during the fight-or-flight response. She is mapping projections from the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and locus coeruleus (LC) to the central amygdala (CeA) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) using neuroanatomical tracing. In parallel, she employs DREADDs in the LC and NTS to test how these pathways contribute to fear behaviors. Her research focuses on the interplay between fear circuits in the CeA and stress hormone regulation in the PVN. Looking ahead, she plans to incorporate fiber photometry, light-sheet microscopy, and whole-cell patch clamp to examine neurotransmitter release dynamics, cell plasticity, and the influence of other neuromodulators on noradrenergic signaling.

Previous Researchers

Chandu's work focused on studying the neural regulation underlying defensive response scaling and flexible action selection, like freezing-flight-fight, in the face of threat. He used sophisticated neuronal tracing tools and employes optogenetics and chemogenetic manipulations to evaluate the role of cell type specific neuronal pathways modulating the fear responses. Moreover, Chandu is an expert in recording neuronal activity using Miniscope assisted deep brain calcium imaging. The overall aim of his studies was to identify the potential targets for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders.

Eric was researching how different brain areas affect defensive response during the extinction of conditioned fear responses. He used optogenetics to manipulate regions like the central amygdala and ventral hippocampus during a modified Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm in order to determine their roles in modulating fear responses like freezing and flight. Eric hopes that his research will provide insight into treatment targets for those suffering from fear disorders like PTSD.