Behavioral neuroscience is the study of behavior as a function of brain activity. As a discipline, it has an intimate relation with such fields as neurophysiology, experimental neuroanatomy, and neurochemistry; hence the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches. Members of the department of psychology collaborate with other neuroscientists in the departments of biology, physical therapy, and pharmacy at Northeastern and in the Boston area.
Facilities
Extensive research facilities are available for investigations in behavioral neuroscience, ranging from immunohistochemical techniques to ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging. These are described below in conjunction with individual faculty research programs.
Specialization: Developmental Risk and Protective Factors
Dr. Ferris’s research focuses on developmental behavioral neuroscience. Interests include the plasticity of the brain and how early emotional and environmental risk factors alter social and cognitive behaviors. Risk factors include drugs of abuse like cocaine and alcohol and social subjugation in the context of dominant/subordinate relationships. The laboratory uses standard molecular and neurobiological techniques to study the brains of rodents. In addition, ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging is used as a non-invasive tool for developmental studies in monkeys enabling one to follow changes in brain structure, chemistry and function in the same animal over the course of its life. The goal of the research is to better understand the brain mechanisms contributing to mental illness and drug addiction in the hope of improving psychosocial and psychopharmacologic intervention strategies.
Specialization: Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse
Dr. Jackson’s research focuses on the effects of prenatal psychomotor stimulant exposure (amphetamine, cocaine, etc.) on brain monoaminergic systems in developing rodent offspring. Her research group examines the impact of drug-induced alterations of these monoaminergic systems on post-synaptic function. These studies are particularly relevant to the issues of permanent neurological deficits in children exposed to stimulant drugs in utero and the development of more effective and specific drug therapies. A major goal of this research is to characterize short- and long-term effects of prenatal drug exposure in rat offspring. Of particular interest is elucidating these effects at the neuroanatomical and biochemical levels. The neuroanatomical studies involve the use of immunocytochemical staining techniques to visualize cells in the brain and a computer-assisted image analysis system for quantification of drug effects. Neurochemical investigations are aimed at elucidating the functional consequences of drug-induced anatomical alterations. Ongoing studies utilize an in vitro slice preparation and in vivo brain microdialysis to measure basal and evoked neurotransmitter release.
Specialization: Adolescent Substance Use and Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory: Developmental and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory
Dr. Melloni studies the developmental and molecular neurobiology of aggressive behavior. The primary focus of this research is to characterize the effects of drug use and social stress during critical phases of neural development on the molecular regulation of aggression. Three current research projects using animal models investigate: (1) the neurobiology of aggression following anabolic steroid and cocaine exposure during adolescent development; (2) the neurobiology of social subjugation (i.e. the acquisition of submissive behavior as the result of repeated physical defeat) during early neural development; and (3) the neurobiological consequences of exposure to psychiatric drugs used to treat aggression in clinical youth populations. Present studies employ evolving molecular biological methods and immunohistochemical procedures to investigate neuronal gene expression and development following experimental treatment. In addition, studies focused on the identification and characterization of novel biological markers of excessive, inappropriate aggression are underway currently in the laboratory using a population of high risk, aggressive, psychiatrically referred children and adolescents as a model.
Specialization: Visual Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory: Laboratory for ERG Studies
Dr. Naarendorp’s research is aimed at understanding the relationship between neural activity in the retina and vision. His work involves both human and animal subjects. Experiments conducted on humans are psychophysical in nature. On animals he uses psychophysical, electrophysiological, and pharmacological techniques. For both humans and animals, Dr. Naarendorp seeks to describe response characteristics of photoreceptors and their associated retinal pathways. Studies of this kind are important from the standpoint of basic science because they provide insight into the early stages of information processing by the nervous system.
Specialization: Sex Differences in Stress and Fear
Dr Shansky’s lab studies how changes in neuronal connectivity can translate into behavioral changes after a stressful event. A disruption of communication between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala can lead to abnormal fear responses, and the lab combines behavioral testing with high-level microscopy to identify the neuroanatomical markers associated with individual variation in the expression of fear. Current research probes potential sex differences in these effects, and how ovarian hormones like estrogen can interact with neurotransmitters to produce unique fear responses and memories in females.
Behavioral Neuroscience
Behavioral neuroscience is the study of behavior as a function of brain activity. As a discipline, it has an intimate relation with such fields as neurophysiology, experimental neuroanatomy, and neurochemistry; hence the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches. Members of the department of psychology collaborate with other neuroscientists in the departments of biology, physical therapy, and pharmacy at Northeastern and in the Boston area.
Facilities
Extensive research facilities are available for investigations in behavioral neuroscience, ranging from immunohistochemical techniques to ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging. These are described below in conjunction with individual faculty research programs.
Faculty
Craig Ferris
Specialization: Developmental Risk and Protective Factors
Dr. Ferris’s research focuses on developmental behavioral neuroscience. Interests include the plasticity of the brain and how early emotional and environmental risk factors alter social and cognitive behaviors. Risk factors include drugs of abuse like cocaine and alcohol and social subjugation in the context of dominant/subordinate relationships. The laboratory uses standard molecular and neurobiological techniques to study the brains of rodents. In addition, ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging is used as a non-invasive tool for developmental studies in monkeys enabling one to follow changes in brain structure, chemistry and function in the same animal over the course of its life. The goal of the research is to better understand the brain mechanisms contributing to mental illness and drug addiction in the hope of improving psychosocial and psychopharmacologic intervention strategies.
Denise Jackson
Specialization: Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse
Dr. Jackson’s research focuses on the effects of prenatal psychomotor stimulant exposure (amphetamine, cocaine, etc.) on brain monoaminergic systems in developing rodent offspring. Her research group examines the impact of drug-induced alterations of these monoaminergic systems on post-synaptic function. These studies are particularly relevant to the issues of permanent neurological deficits in children exposed to stimulant drugs in utero and the development of more effective and specific drug therapies. A major goal of this research is to characterize short- and long-term effects of prenatal drug exposure in rat offspring. Of particular interest is elucidating these effects at the neuroanatomical and biochemical levels. The neuroanatomical studies involve the use of immunocytochemical staining techniques to visualize cells in the brain and a computer-assisted image analysis system for quantification of drug effects. Neurochemical investigations are aimed at elucidating the functional consequences of drug-induced anatomical alterations. Ongoing studies utilize an in vitro slice preparation and in vivo brain microdialysis to measure basal and evoked neurotransmitter release.
Richard Melloni
Specialization: Adolescent Substance Use and Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior
Laboratory: Developmental and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory
Dr. Melloni studies the developmental and molecular neurobiology of aggressive behavior. The primary focus of this research is to characterize the effects of drug use and social stress during critical phases of neural development on the molecular regulation of aggression. Three current research projects using animal models investigate: (1) the neurobiology of aggression following anabolic steroid and cocaine exposure during adolescent development; (2) the neurobiology of social subjugation (i.e. the acquisition of submissive behavior as the result of repeated physical defeat) during early neural development; and (3) the neurobiological consequences of exposure to psychiatric drugs used to treat aggression in clinical youth populations. Present studies employ evolving molecular biological methods and immunohistochemical procedures to investigate neuronal gene expression and development following experimental treatment. In addition, studies focused on the identification and characterization of novel biological markers of excessive, inappropriate aggression are underway currently in the laboratory using a population of high risk, aggressive, psychiatrically referred children and adolescents as a model.
Frank Naarendorp
Specialization: Visual Perception and Psychophysics
Laboratory: Laboratory for ERG Studies
Dr. Naarendorp’s research is aimed at understanding the relationship between neural activity in the retina and vision. His work involves both human and animal subjects. Experiments conducted on humans are psychophysical in nature. On animals he uses psychophysical, electrophysiological, and pharmacological techniques. For both humans and animals, Dr. Naarendorp seeks to describe response characteristics of photoreceptors and their associated retinal pathways. Studies of this kind are important from the standpoint of basic science because they provide insight into the early stages of information processing by the nervous system.
Rebecca Shansky
Specialization: Sex Differences in Stress and Fear
Dr Shansky’s lab studies how changes in neuronal connectivity can translate into behavioral changes after a stressful event. A disruption of communication between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala can lead to abnormal fear responses, and the lab combines behavioral testing with high-level microscopy to identify the neuroanatomical markers associated with individual variation in the expression of fear. Current research probes potential sex differences in these effects, and how ovarian hormones like estrogen can interact with neurotransmitters to produce unique fear responses and memories in females.