Angela Bruno
PhD Student

Andrew Scheyer
PhD Student

Flexible ensemble structure is an inherent feature of many neural circuits, and we speculate that aberrations of ensemble dynamics may contribute to pathology in neurological and psychiatric disease.  To better understand flexible ensemble structure, I investigate the moment to moment changes in neural network organization that occur during both normal behavior and learning in a simple model preparation.

My research focuses on the electrophysiological consequences of cocaine withdrawal in the nucleus accumbens.  Currently, I am investigating the changes associated with the homeostatic regulation of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in medium-spiny neurons, and the implications this may have on glutamatergic transmission in drug-reward circuitry.

Craig Werner
PhD Student

Stanley Bazarek
MD/PhD Student

I am interested in investigating the role of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in the regulation of glutamate receptor transmission following exposure to drugs of abuse.  My work focuses primarily on the nucleaus accumbens, an area known to be important in addiction, with the use of molecular and biochemical techniques. 

The focus of my research is to identify and recruit endogenous stem/progenitor cells from non-neurogenic regions of the brain
parenchyma and direct their differentiation to a neuronal fate using viral gene delivery of various growth and
transcription factors for the purpose of regeneration and repair. 

Anthony Purgianto
MD/PhD Student

My research interest is in the neurobiology of drug addiction.  Drugs of abuse cause a great burden to society, and we still do not have a complete understanding how they are causing an addicted state.  I will be using behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological methods in order to explore neuronal pathways in the brain underlying addiction.  A specific aim of my study is to assess whether the main glutamate pathways into the nucleus accumbens are more or less efficacious in activating nucleus accumbens neurons after cocaine self-administration.