Synaptic dysfunction in neurological and psychiatric disorders related to addiction, pain and stress; Regulation of brain circuitry and neuronal function by GPCRs, neuropeptides and intracellular signaling. Drugs of abuse including opioids, cocaine and cannabinoids.
Selected Publications:
2019
Dynamic CRMP2 Regulation of CaV2.2 in the Prefrontal Cortex Contributes to the Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking.
2018
Chemogenetic Manipulations of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons Reveal Multifaceted Roles in Cocaine Abuse.
Opposing actions of CRF-R1 and CB1 receptors on VTA-GABAergic plasticity following chronic exposure to ethanol.
Restoration of Kv7 Channel-Mediated Inhibition Reduces Cued-Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking.
2017
Dopamine terminals from the ventral tegmental area gate intrinsic inhibition in the prefrontal cortex.
2015
Chronic cocaine disrupts mesocortical learning mechanisms.
2014
CRF-R2 and the heterosynaptic regulation of VTA glutamate during reinstatement of cocaine seeking
2010
Neuroscience: Lack of inhibition leads to abuse.
2008
CRF facilitates calcium release from intracellular stores in midbrain dopamine neurons.
2007
The abused inhalant toluene increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens by directly stimulating ventral tegmental area neurons.
2005
Endocannabinoid release from midbrain dopamine neurons: a potential substrate for cannabinoid receptor antagonist treatment of addiction.
2004
Independent presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms regulate endocannabinoid signaling at multiple synapses in the ventral tegmental area.
Repeated exposure to the abused inhalant toluene alters levels of neurotransmitters and generates peroxynitrite in nigrostriatal and mesolimbic nuclei in rat.
Marijuana and cannabinoid regulation of brain reward circuits.
2003
Functional localization of cannabinoid receptors and endogenous cannabinoid production in distinct neuron populations of the hippocampus.
Toluene-induced locomotor activity is blocked by 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nucleus accumbens and the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268.