Lab Members
Behavioral Neurophysiology &
Synapse Biology Labs.
Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences,
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.
1909 Skip Bertman Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
Louisiana.
Ajn Vats
Ph.D. student
email: avts1@lsu.edu
My research examines how repeated acute stress exposure affects mice's ability to learn new tasks through the dysregulation of synaptic substrates. I use immunoblotting, fluorescent microscopy, and PCR to examine brain regions associated with reward-based learning and fear conditioning, including the PFC and amygdala (fear-associated learning centers) and the VTA and hippocampus (reward-associated learning centers).
Rana Fallah-Safa
Ph.D. student
email: rfalla1@lsu.edu
Research focus: My research focuses on the role of amygdala CRF neurons in ranking reward choices. Specifically, I'm investigating the connections between the cortico-amygdala pathway and amygdala projections to midbrain regions that control reward-aversion learning. My research deploys in vivo recording techniques, pharmacology, chemogenetics, and optogenetics to dissect these circuits.
Tashonda Vaughn
Ph.D. student
email: tvaug12@lsu.edu
Research focus: Dysregulation of cortical lamination through in-utero exposure to organophosphates. I am interested in the organization Cux1+ of cortical neurons in the upper cortical layers (I-IV) and Tbr1+ neurons in the lower cortical layers (V-VI) during developmental phases. I am also using behavioral tests to examine the consequences of aberrant migration patterns.
Ignitius Lim
Ph.D. student
email: ilim2@lsu.edu
Research focus: My research delves into the role of serotonin projections from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the bed nucleus of the stria terminals (BNST) and amygdala in stress-induced and anxiety-related behaviors. Using high-channel count probes, I record in-vivo neural activity in acute and chronic electrophysiological experiments to observe changes in electrophysiological endpoints and neural connections/dynamics in response to anxiety-inducing behaviors.
Sadia Sinza Islam
Ph.D. student
email: ssinza1@lsu.edu
Research focus: My research examines the role of ventral tegmental glutamate projections to the hippocampus in reward context discrimination. This involves synchronized in vivo CA1 recording in combination with optogenetic modulation of VTA glutamate projections. I study this circuit using reward-oriented spatial learning behavioral tests (T-Maze) and the sucrose-conditioned place preference test (CPP).
Madison Williams
Ph.D. student
email: mwil618@lsu.edu
Research focus: My project is focused on creating an anatomical model of neural projections that connect the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the functionally distinct parts of the medial prefrontal cortex. To achieve this, I will use several techniques such as AAV-driven cre-lox neuron labeling, CLARITY, micro-CT, 3D fluorescence imaging, and confocal microscopy. The overall goal of my research is to determine how VTA projections to the prelimbic (PrL) and infralimbic (IL) regions regulate context valency.
Oluwaseyi Adeyemo
Visiting Researcher
email: oadeye6@lsu.edu
Research focus: Analysis of synchronized neural spikes and behavior using computational methods. I am interested in data analysis for electrophysiological experiments to decode brain activity patterns corresponding to complex behavior using machine learning algorithms.
Asmau Abdulmalik
Visiting Researcher
email: aabdu32@lsu.edu
Research focus: Behavioral tests for learning/memory, anxiety, and microscopic techniques.