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Keywords Associated with Work
Alcohol
Along with its other effects, alcohols act as positive GABA(A) modulators and CNS depressants.
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Cannabinoids
Another class of drugs that can be abused and produce physical dependence; however, drugs from this class are also being examined for their therapeutic potential.
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GABA(A) modulators - CNS Depressants
Many clinically important classes of drug such as the benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and neurosteroids act as positive GABA(A) modulators in the brain. Alcohols are another class of drug that can positively modulate the GABA(A) receptor.
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Mu and Kappa Receptor Opioids
A class of drugs that can lead to drug abuse and drug dependence.
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Pharmacology
Behavioral Pharmacology, Psychopharmacology
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Shisa Family of Proteins
This family of proteins is relatively unstudied, and the purpose of these proteins remains somewhat obscure. Shisa7, for example, serves as a chaperone and auxiliary protein for GABA(A) receptors in several key areas of the brain (e.g., hippocampus).
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Primary Research / Clinical / Teaching Interests
Behavioral Pharmacology
Expertise in using operant conditioning to study the effects of drugs on learning and memory. Operant-conditioning procedures can also be used to study the discriminative-stimulus and reinforcing effects of drugs.
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Secondary Research / Clinical / Teaching Interests
Drug Development
Interested in developing therapeutics for drug abuse and drug dependence.
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Unique Equipment Used
Operant Chambers/Boxes
Operant boxes, 28-volt power supplies, 28v/5v interfaces, electromechanical feeders, activity chambers, 8-arm radial maze, and nonhuman primate response panels
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Unique Techniques Used or Developed
Antinociception Procedures
These procedures assess the capacity of drugs to produce antinociception using a variety of techniques, including warm-water tail withdrawal and the electronic von Frey test following CFA administration.
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Drug Discrimination Procedures
These procedures establish the subjective effects of drugs (e.g., euphoria, sedation, etc.) as discriminative stimuli for reinforcement in two operant chambers
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Preference or Choice Procedures
These procedures are used to assess a subject's preference or choice to consume a drug such as alcohol over other substances such as water. While these two-bottle choice procedures are viewed differently than self-administration procedures they have been accepted as means of examining the reinforcing effects of the drug.
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Repeated Acquisition Procedures
Operant techniques for studying learning and memory in a variety of species, including mice, rats, pigeons, and nonhuman primates.
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Self-Administration Procedures
These operant procedures determine of particular drugs can serve as reinforcers or reinforcing stimuli. These procedures are generally considered the gold standard for assessing the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse.
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