Research

I am fascinated by the molecular and cellular processes that drive behavior. As such, I am tremendously interested in understanding how physiological regulators of neuronal circuit activity modulate sensory information processing and behavior. Neuropeptides are secreted signaling molecules that regulate a variety of nervous system functions to influence whole organism behavior.

Pain is the most common reason for physician consultation in the United States and the main reason for visiting the emergency department in more than 50% of cases.

Circadian rhythms drive daily oscillations of gene expression in tissues throughout the body.

Neuropeptidergic signaling plays an important role in modulating arousal in vertebrates and invertebrates with the majority of these pathways conserved throughout evolution.

An animal's fitness is contingent on its ability to make behavioral choices in light of sensory inputs; such decisions are more difficult when the animal must choose between conflicting stimuli.

Pro-apoptotic signaling via the transcription factor E2F1 in mammalian neurons can be induced by mitochondrially derived oxidative stress in an AMPK dependent manner.

A human brain in a deep sleep phase displays highly synchronous activity in some neurons while other neurons become silent.