Neuroinflammation precedes neuronal loss in striatal neurodegenerative diseases and can be exacerbated by the release of proinflammatory molecules by microglia. These molecules can affect trafficking of glutamate receptors. ...

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are first-line seizure treatments. Despite use in pregnancy and early life, their impact on brain maturation is unclear. This can only be assessed in preclinical models (e.g., rats), as seizures ...

Melanocortin neural circuits are important regulators of food intake (FI) and body weight (BW). The hypothesis of the first part of my dissertation is that the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) represents an important ...

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and its interactions with the basolateral amygdala (BLA) are critical for goal-directed behavior, especially for adapting to changes in reward value. I investigated the contribution of OFC ...

The central nervous system (CNS) comprises the necessary components for converting sensation into behavior, a phenomenon fundamental to mammalian survival. One way that sensation can be converted into behavior is via a ...

Concussions account for over 80% of all cases of TBI reported each year. Sustaining multiple concussions is associated with the development of lasting cognitive and memory impairments. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy ...

The superior colliculus (SC) and amygdala are central components of the defensive system within the brain. The SC processes conscious and non-conscious visual information and directs orienting and defensive behavioral ...

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a critical limbic-motor interface that is important for both processing reward and generating voluntary and reflexive motor outcomes. The NAc receives dense dopaminergic input from the ventral ...