Project Summary

Steven R. Laviolette, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2007) of the University of Western Ontario, is studying the interconnected brain regions of the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area, which are critical for processing emotionally sensory information. His laboratory is investigating how individual neurons in those areas encode this information and how two neurotransmitters, dopamine and cannabinoids, may be involved in signaling it. The amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex are believed to be disturbed in schizophrenia, abnormal dopamine transmission from the ventral tegmental area may underlie the disturbed emotional processing and learning of addiction and schizophrenia.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS\Mood Disorders/Schizophrenia\Substance Abuse

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