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Research in the Rainnie lab, based at the Yerkes National Primate Research
Center, has been driven by my long-time interest in understanding the cellular
processes that contribute to the perception of emotion. Emotion is often regarded
as a psychological response rather than a physiological process, and yet, it
exists simply because of an interaction between complex molecular, biochemical,
and biophysical processes. Consequently, research in the Rainnie lab has focused
on an investigation of the cellular and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying
emotional aspects of cognition, with emphasis on the role of the extended amygdala
in fear conditioning and extinction as well as anxiety-like behavior.
Multiple techniques ranging from molecular biology, through in vitro whole-cell
patch clamp recording from visually identified neurons, to in vivo multiunit
recording from freely moving animals are employed to examine the functional
and neurochemical connectivity of the extended amygdala in an attempt to create
a functional map of the intrinsic circuitry, and to determine how sensory information
gains affective weight within this structure. By understanding how sensory
information is processed in the extended amygdala our ultimate objective is
to shed light on the cellular processes that may contribute to the development
of mood disorders such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder,
and post traumatic stress disorder.
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