Neural mechanisms of pelvic
visceral pain and endometriosis;
influence of reproductive status on
pain and on neural and visceral
functions; endocannabinoid system
involvement in visceral function and
pain.
Neurobiology of drug addiction;
neuropsychopharmacology; signal
transduction; animal models of mental/
mood disorders. The goal is to
better understand ways in which the
developing and adult brain responds
to environmental, pharmacological
and genetic manipulations resulting
in pathological conditions. Analyses
involve the use of behavioral,
neurochemical and psychopharmacological
approaches, as well as in
vivo gene transfer using viral vectors.
Roles of early dietary experience,
taste, hormones, and the brain in
control of appetite, energy balance,
and blood pressure regulation. Special
focus is on how the peripheral
nervous system codes information
about taste quality and intensity.
Analyses include behavioral, physiological,
and anatomical approaches.
Rodent models assessing genetic
and biological risk factors for anorexia
and obesity; sex differences in
ingestive behavior and diet-induced
obesity; role of estradiol in modulating
the neural control of food intake;
role of taste in guiding dietary choice
and food intake.
Neuropharmacology of motivated behaviors; similarities and differences in neural responses to drug vs. sexual experience; effects of sexual experience on responsiveness to drugs.
Role of experience in the development
of the nervous system; effects
of deafness on neuronal survival;
cellular mechanisms of neuronal cell
death; structure and physiology of
the auditory system; neuropharmacology.
Neural and behavioral development;
research encompasses regulation
of critical periods for learning and
neural plasticity, development of sex
differences in brain and behavior,
regulation of neuron survival over the
life-span, mechanisms of neuronal
cell death.
Rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders; cognition & neuropsychopharmacology; executive function, impulsivity, and risky decision-making; behavioral economics of drug abuse; interactions of sex hormones and drug effects; cognition across development; ingestive behaviors, palatable food, and reward.
Neural basis of taste perception.
Role of taste in guiding feeding
and drinking behavior. Functional
consequences of gustatory nerve
transection and regeneration, selective
central nervous system lesions,
and genetic manipulations of the
gustatory system on taste-related
behavior in rodent models.
Feasibility studies, conducting experiments, algorithm development, and clinical data analysis for bioelectronics and bioinstrumentation. Experience in designing instruments and software applications for animal and human behavioral experiments, circuit design and software development. Solid knowledge of fundamental engineering concepts, including Analog and Digital Circuits, Signal Processing, DSP, Biomedical Instrumentation and Controls Systems.
Rodent models addressing the
neural and hormonal control of
food intake and body weight; communication
between gut and brain;
pathophysiology of obesity; physiological
and behavioral responses to
overfeeding, palatable foods, dieting
and starvation.
