Neil K. Savalia
MD, PhD Student, Interdepartmental Neuroscience ProgramAbout
Research
Publications
Featured Publications
A Dendrite-Focused Framework for Understanding the Actions of Ketamine and Psychedelics
Savalia NK, Shao LX, Kwan AC. A Dendrite-Focused Framework for Understanding the Actions of Ketamine and Psychedelics. Trends In Neurosciences 2020, 44: 260-275. PMID: 33358035, PMCID: PMC7990695, DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.11.008.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsPsilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo
Shao LX, Liao C, Gregg I, Davoudian PA, Savalia NK, Delagarza K, Kwan AC. Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo. Neuron 2021, 109: 2535-2544.e4. PMID: 34228959, PMCID: PMC8376772, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFrontal cortexDendritic spinesMouse medial frontal cortexLayer 5 pyramidal neuronsSpine formation ratesApical dendritic spinesMedial frontal cortexUntapped therapeutic potentialPyramidal neuronsSingle doseExcitatory neurotransmissionBehavioral deficitsBeneficial actionsStructural remodelingSynaptic rewiringMammalian brainTherapeutic potentialNeural adaptationUse of psychedelicsSerotonergic psychedelicsSpine sizeTwo-photon microscopyCortexPsilocybinSpinePsilocybin’s lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT2A receptors
Shao L, Liao C, Davoudian P, Savalia N, Jiang Q, Wojtasiewicz C, Tan D, Nothnagel J, Liu R, Woodburn S, Bilash O, Kim H, Che A, Kwan A. Psilocybin’s lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT2A receptors. Nature 2025, 642: 411-420. PMID: 40175553, PMCID: PMC12188471, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08813-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedial frontal cortexFrontal cortexMouse medial frontal cortexSingle dose of psilocybinDose of psilocybinImpact of psilocybinDensity of dendritic spinesPyramidal cell typesStress-related behaviorsDendritic spinesStress-related phenotypesCell-type-specific electrophysiologyPsilocybin effectsPT neuronsSerotonergic psychedelicsRemodeling of dendritic spinesCell typesElevated firing ratesPyramidal tractPsilocybinIT neuronsPsychedelicsStructural plasticityFiring rateCalcium transientsDecreased segregation of brain systems across the healthy adult lifespan.
Chan MY, Park DC, Savalia NK, Petersen SE, Wig GS. Decreased segregation of brain systems across the healthy adult lifespan. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014, 111: E4997-5006. PMID: 25368199, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1415122111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMotion-related artifacts in structural brain images revealed with independent estimates of in-scanner head motion.
Savalia NK, Agres PF, Chan MY, Feczko EJ, Kennedy KM, Wig GS. Motion-related artifacts in structural brain images revealed with independent estimates of in-scanner head motion. Hum Brain Mapp 2017, 38: 472-492. PMID: 27634551, DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23397.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Frontal noradrenergic and cholinergic transients exhibit distinct spatiotemporal dynamics during competitive decision-making
Wang H, Ortega H, Kelly E, Indajang J, Savalia N, Glaeser-Khan S, Feng J, Li Y, Kaye A, Kwan A. Frontal noradrenergic and cholinergic transients exhibit distinct spatiotemporal dynamics during competitive decision-making. Science Advances 2025, 11: eadr9916. PMID: 40138407, PMCID: PMC11939063, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr9916.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeuromodulatory signalsCompetitive decision-makingCholinergic transientsNE signalingPremotor cortexAnimal's propensityBehavioral correlatesAcetylcholine signalingMatching pennies gamePattern of NEBehavioral eventsNorepinephrineCortexDecision-makingAcetylcholinePremotorFunctional relevanceOptogenetics
2024
Spatiotemporal Organization of Prefrontal Norepinephrine Influences Neuronal Activity
Glaeser-Khan S, Savalia N, Cressy J, Feng J, Li Y, Kwan A, Kaye A. Spatiotemporal Organization of Prefrontal Norepinephrine Influences Neuronal Activity. ENeuro 2024, 11: eneuro.0252-23.2024. PMID: 38702188, PMCID: PMC11134306, DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0252-23.2024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTwo-photon imagingLocus coeruleusPrefrontal cortexOptical flow analysisIn vivo two-photon imagingInfluence neuronal activityVesicle exocytosisControl of cortical activityNE releaseGPCR-based sensorsNE dynamicsLocal fieldNeuronal calciumNeuronal firingCell firingNE roleNorepinephrineHomogeneous fieldNeuronal activitySpatiotemporal activity patternsNeurotransmitter functionSensorLight-sheet imagingAxonal dynamicsSpatial scales
2021
Ketamine for a Boost of Neural Plasticity: How, but Also When?
Wu H, Savalia NK, Kwan AC. Ketamine for a Boost of Neural Plasticity: How, but Also When? Biological Psychiatry 2021, 89: 1030-1032. PMID: 34016377, PMCID: PMC8190578, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.03.014.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2018
Functional Parcellation of the Cerebral Cortex Across the Human Adult Lifespan.
Han L, Savalia NK, Chan MY, Agres PF, Nair AS, Wig GS. Functional Parcellation of the Cerebral Cortex Across the Human Adult Lifespan. Cereb Cortex 2018, 28: 4403-4423. PMID: 30307480, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLearning Efficiency: Identifying Individual Differences in Learning Rate and Retention in Healthy Adults.
Zerr CL, Berg JJ, Nelson SM, Fishell AK, Savalia NK, McDermott KB. Learning Efficiency: Identifying Individual Differences in Learning Rate and Retention in Healthy Adults. Psychol Sci 2018, 29: 1436-1450. PMID: 29953332, DOI: 10.1177/0956797618772540.Peer-Reviewed Original Research