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Research > Behavioral Neuroscience
Behavioral neuroscience is the study of behavior as a function of brain activity. As a discipline, it has an intimate relation with other biological sciences. There is considerable overlap between the problems of psychology and those of neurophysiology, experimental neuroanatomy and neurochemistry; hence, the possibility (or necessity) of reciprocal assistance. Members of the department of psychology collaborate with other neuroscientists in the departments of biology, physical therapy, and pharmacy at Northeastern and in the Boston area.
Research facilities available for investigations in neuropsychology and biological psychology include small animal and primate surgery, rodent and primate laboratories, single-unit and EEG equipment, chemical and electrical brain-stimulation equipment, neuroanatomical and histological laboratories, a videotape system, and online, offline computer systems for data collection and analysis. An electron microscope is also available. Research facilities also include equipment to conduct studies of in vitro neurotransmitter release, in vivo brain microdialysis, quantitative light microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of brain monoamines.
Specialization: Maternal Behavior and Drugs of Abuse Dr. Febo's research focuses on characterizing neuronal and behavioral changes that occur with repeated exposure to drugs of abuse. Currently, they are interested in studying the dopaminergic system in the maternal brain and its role in processing rewarding stimuli. Lactation provides a rewarding experience beneficial to mother-infant bonding. Cocaine addiction can sever this critical mother-infant experience, possibly affecting child psychosocial development. A host of methodologies from functional MRI, in vivo neuronal recordings to in vivo microdialysis and receptor autoradiography are being applied to identify and characterize neural networks activated by suckling and other pup-derived sensory stimuli that represent natural rewards for lactating rats. What are the neural circuits that respond to pups? How do pup stimuli compare to and compete with other natural rewards (food, water, sex)? What brain chemicals modulate mother-pup interactions? How do cocaine and other drugs of abuse affect maternal brain activity and behavior? These are just a few examples of questions that currently interests them. By understanding dopaminergic mechanisms underlying maternal behavior, it will be possible to target brain substrates for clinical intervention in mothers recovering from addiction, withdrawal or depression. Specialization: Developmental Risk and Protective Factors Dr. Ferris's research focuses on developmental behavioral neuroscience. Interests include the plasticity of the brain and how early emotional and environmental risk factors alter social and cognitive behaviors. Risk factors include drugs of abuse like cocaine and alcohol and social subjugation in the context of dominant/subordinate relationships. Laboratory uses standard molecular and neurobiological techniques to study the brains of rodents. In addition, ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging is used as a non-invasive tool for developmental studies in monkeys enabling one to follow changes in brain structure, chemistry and function in the same animal over the course of its life. The goal of research is to better understand the brain mechanisms contributing to mental illness and drug addiction in the hope of improving psychosocial and psychopharmacologic intervention strategies. Specialization: Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse
Specialization: Adolescent Substance Use and Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory: Developmental and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory
Specialization: Neurological Mechanisms Associated with Stress, Depression and Drug Addiction Dr. McLaughlin’s research is on the neurological mechanisms underlying the psychological disorders of stress, depression and drug addiction. His group examines the interactions of stress-induced endogenous opioids (e.g. endorphins and dynorphins) and growth factors (e.g. BDNF) with reward pathways, and the resultant behavioral consequences. As stress may predispose subjects to both behavioral depression and increased drug use, further understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms mediating the response to stress and the role of the endogenous opioid system are likely to provide new insights into the problems of stress adaptation. Dr. McLaughlin’s ongoing research utilizes biochemical, pharmacological, neuroanatomical and behavioral methods. Behavioral studies characterize the reactions of stress-exposed mice to both environmental stimuli and abused drugs (e.g. morphine and cocaine) in learning and conditioned-place preference tasks. Neuroanatomical studies use immunocytochemical staining techniques to visualize the brain cells mediating these behaviors. Pharmacological methods are used to identify and manipulate the neurotransmitters mediating the stress-induced behavioral responses. Molecular biochemical methods are utilized to produce tools such as phosphospecific receptor antibodies to further examine the molecular determinants of the stress-induced behaviors. The goal of these studies is to elucidate the combined mechanism of these interactions, thereby identifying new therapeutic interventions for stress, depression and drug abuse. Specialization: Visual Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory: Laboratory for ERG Studies
Specialization: Neural Mechanisms of Reward and Motivation Laboratory: Stellar Neuroscience Lab
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Facilities
Dr.
Jackson's research focuses on the effects of prenatal psychomotor stimulant
exposure (amphetamine, cocaine, etc.) on brain monoaminergic systems in
developing rodent offspring. Her research group examines the impact of
drug-induced alterations of these monoaminergic systems on post-synaptic
function. These studies are particularly relevant to the issues of permanent
neurological deficits in children exposed to stimulant drugs in utero
and the development of more effective and specific drug therapies. A major
goal of this research is to characterize short- and long-term effects
of prenatal drug exposure in rat offspring. Of particular interest is
elucidating these effects at the neuroanatomical and biochemical levels.
The neuroanatomical studies involve the use of immunocytochemical staining
techniques to visualize cells in the brain and a computer-assisted image
analysis system for quantification of drug effects. Neurochemical investigations
are aimed at elucidating the functional consequences of drug-induced anatomical
alterations. Ongoing studies utilize an in vitro slice preparation
and in vivo brain microdialysis to measure basal and evoked neurotransmitter
release. 
Dr.
Melloni studies the developmental and molecular neurobiology of aggressive
behavior. The primary focus of this research is to characterize the effects
of drug use and social stress during critical phases of neural development
on the molecular regulation of aggression. Three current research projects
using animal models investigate: (1) the neurobiology of aggression following
anabolic steroid and cocaine exposure during adolescent development; (2)
the neurobiology of social subjugation (i.e. the acquisition of submissive
behavior as the result of repeated physical defeat) during early neural
development; and (3) the neurobiological consequences of exposure to psychiatric
drugs used to treat aggression in clinical youth populations. Present
studies employ evolving molecular biological methods and immunohistochemical
procedures to investigate neuronal gene expression and development following
experimental treatment. In addition, studies focused on the identification
and characterization of novel biological markers of excessive, inappropriate
aggression are underway currently in the laboratory using a population
of high risk, aggressive, psychiatrically referred children and adolescents
as a model.
Dr.
Naarendorp’s research is aimed at understanding the relationship
between neural activity in the retina and vision. His work involves both
human and animal subjects. Experiments conducted on human beings are psychophysical
in nature. On animals he uses psychophysical, electrophysiological and
pharmacological techniques. For both humans and animals, Naarendorp seeks
to describe response characteristics of photoreceptors and their associated
retinal pathways. Studies of this kind are important from the standpoint
of basic science because they provide insight into the early stages of
information processing by the nervous system.
Dr. Stellar's laboratory studies the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of
reward and motivation
process in rats, especially as they might underlie drug addiction. We
currently work in 3
areas. We use immunohistochemistry to study the protein expression changes
in immediate early
genes, receptors, and cell signalling pathways following repeated cocaine
treatment and
resulting behavioral sensitization. We use the brain stimulation
rate-frequency curve-shift
method to assess quantitatively the reward enhancing properties of cocaine,
drugs that might
interfere with that reward enhancement, and the effects of
cocaine-associated cues. We study
the effects of intracranial drug injection into specific brain regions of
freely moving animals
engaging in intravenous cocaine self-administration and, after extinction,
in reinstatement
behaviors, an animal model of drug craving. A variety of other behavioral
(e.g. locomotion,
place preference) and biological (Western blot) techniques are available.