Post-Doctoral Researcher
Maladaptive attractions occur when we ‘want’ something that we don’t necessarily ‘like’, even when we know that seeking the target will ultimately harm us. For example, in drug addiction, the individual may wish to abstain from their addicted substance, but becomes overpowered by a strong desire to seek and consume it. What brain systems are responsible for maladaptive ‘wants’? My research focuses on amygdala neuronal mechanisms that control ‘wanting’ for harmful stimuli (e.g., shock rod). My research further investigates how these amygdala systems can hijack motivation and bias it towards a particular reward (e.g., sugar or drugs).
Current Projects:
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Investigating the roles of central amygdala neurons that express dopamine D1 or D2 receptors, and those that release corticotropin-releasing-factor, in producing ‘wanting’ for an aversive shock delivering rod.
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Recording dopaminergic activity in mesolimbic systems of rats that are engaged in ‘wanting what hurts’.
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Generating narrowly focused ‘wanting’ for particular rewards (sucrose or remifentanil), as a result of activating the central amygdala.
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Investigating the roles of nucleus accumbens D1 and D2 neurons in reward motivation.
Techniques:
Optogenetics, fiber photometry, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, and behavioral assays including operant tasks, shock rod, self-stimulation, and drug self-administration.
