Welcome!

Our research broadly concerns neurochemistry of cognitive processes and brain pathologies with dysfunctional cognitive abilities. We seek to understand how neurochemical signaling systems regulate information processing in brain circuits to support attention, working memory and executive functions. We are also interested in exploring the impact of neurodevelopmental aberrations and aging on neural circuits involved in cognition. Our research utilizes animal models that probe important neuropathological and behavioral features of brain disorders. Using these models, we aim to gain a better understanding of neural mechanisms underlying impaired cognitive functions in disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Schizophrenia and Drug Addiction. The long term goal of our research is to identify neurobiological targets and biomarkers to develop therapeutic approaches towards amelioration of cognitive deficits associated with these mental disorders.

We utilize a broad range of methodologies to gain neurobiological insights at the intersection of brain, cognition and behavior. Some of the techniques routinely used in our lab are extracellular electrochemical recordings to monitor real time changes in synaptic transmission, operant paradigms to assess cognitive functions in rodents, and cellular and molecular approaches including the use of transgenic mice and vector-based RNAi methods, immunohistochemistry, cell imaging, western blotting, PCR and cell culture to delineate neurochemical signaling pathways and transduction mechanisms of information processing.