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Marina Picciotto, PhD

Charles B. G. Murphy Professor of Psychiatry and Professor in the Child Study Center, of Neuroscience and of Pharmacology; Director Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Psychiatry; Deputy Chair for Basic Science Research, Dept. of Psychiatry; Director, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

Contact Information

Marina Picciotto, PhD

Mailing Address

  • Psychiatry

    34 Park Street, 3rd floor research

    New Haven, CT 06508

    United States

Picciotto Lab

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Research Summary

The goal of Dr. Picciotto's research team is to understand the role of single molecules in complex behaviors related to addiction, depression, feeding and learning. She and her colleagues use molecular genetic, pharmacological and in vivo imaging approaches to link the biochemical, cellular, circuit and anatomical levels of investigation to behavior. Of primary interest is the role of acetylcholine and acetylcholine receptors in brain function and development, as well as sex differences in molecular and circuit-level signaling relevant for behavior.

Dr. Picciotto’s laboratory also studies signaling molecules downstream of nicotinic receptors which mediate long-term changes in behavior downstream of these receptors.

Specialized Terms: Neuroscience; Molecular basis of behavior; Intracellular signaling; fiber photometry; Mouse genetic models; alcohol; sex differences

Extensive Research Description

Our goal is to understand the role of single molecules in both typical behaviors and those relevant to psychiatric illness. We use molecular genetic, pharmacological and in vivo imaging approaches to link the biochemical, cellular, and anatomical levels of investigation to behavior. A primary focus is the role of acetylcholine signaling in brain development and function.

We also use proteomic approaches to discover signaling molecules downstream of nicotinic receptors that may mediate long-term changes in behavior following receptor activation. Ultimately, integration of studies at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels will be necessary to understand the neurobiological basis for expression and plasticity of complex behaviors.

Current projects include:

  • Sex differences in molecules and circuits underlying behaviors relevant to alcohol or nicotine addiction
  • Long-range circuits involved in reward enhancement relevant to addiction
  • Intracellular signaling pathways involved in the transition to behaviors related to nicotine addiction
  • Cholinergic compounds as novel anxiolytics or antidepressants
  • Interactions between acetylcholine and GABA signaling in BLA involved in stress-induced alcohol intake: sex differences and role of microglial signaling
  • Effects of acetylcholine on brain-body interactions related to contextual tolerance to opiates

Coauthors

Research Interests

Acetylcholine; Alcohol Drinking; Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms; Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurobiology; Neurosciences; Nicotine; Pharmacology; Stress, Psychological; Opiate Alkaloids

Research Images

Activity of the VTA-to-VP GABA pathway scales with the value of a primary reward
(A) Heatmap of calcium-dependent fluorescence signals in VTA-to-VP GABA neurons across 5 CRT sessions on consecutive days. Signals were aligned to the time of magazine entry (0 sec). (B) The area under the curve (AUC) of fluorescence signals measured from (A). Upper panel shows the fluorescence change across 5 sessions. Lower panel shows the AUCs calculated from the upper panel curves from 0 – 5 sec (grey area). Each dot represents the averaged AUC of the fluorescence signals measured in one mouse in one session. One-way ANOVA of the signal AUC across 5 sessions: F(4, 30) = 0.034; p = 0.998. N = 7 mice. (C) Heatmap of fluorescence signals in terminals of VTA-to-VP GABA neurons during FR1 responding to different sizes of reward (reward delivery for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sec). (D) The AUC of fluorescence signals measured from (C). Upper panel shows the fluorescence change in response to different sizes of reward. Lower panel shows the AUCs calculated from the upper panel curves.

Selected Publications

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