Hindbrain and Amygdalar Circuits in Substance Use Disorder

Abstract:
The McElligott lab studies alcohol and opioid use disorders in mouse models. We are particularly focused on reciprocal circuits between the hindbrain and the extended amygdala. Here I will present data investigating these circuits in both alcohol and opioid use disorder models. I will also focus on new data from the lab exploring adulterants in the unregulated non-medical drug supply and the impact these have on addiction and public health.

About the Speaker:
Zoe (she/her) received her B.S. from New York University in Neural Science in 2003 and subsequently did her Ph.D. in the lab of Danny Winder at Vanderbilt University (2009) studying noradrenergic modulation of glutamatergic signaling in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Zoe then completed a post-doc with Mark Wightman at UNC learning in vivo and ex vivo fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and spent a year in the Stuber lab at UNC learning optogenetic and behavioral techniques. The McElligott Lab officially launched in the fall of 2015 at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies and the Department of Psychiatry.

Contact

Nikki Crawley
nzc27@psu.edu