Neural Mechanisms for Neuropathic Pain & Pain Perception: "Hitting the Reset Button"

Dr. Riegel’s lab is interested in dopamine for its broad role in motor and motivational systems including cognition, attention and learning. They use experimental approaches in animals to investigate the synaptic brain circuitry tuned to support these behaviors and also investigate the related neuroadaptive changes (synaptic plasticity), which may underlie prevalent diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, psychosis, schizophrenia, and Tourette’s syndrome. Current research in his lab utilizes in vitro electrophysiology (whole cell patch clamp), calcium neuroimaging and uncaging (flash photolysis) in combination with behavioral self-administration to better understand the role of dopamine in normal and abnormal brain function.

Lunch will be provided.

Hosted by: Dr. Edward Bilsky