Behavioural Physiology and Stress Research Group

The group engages in multidisciplinary research with significant potential for translation to clinical practice. The experimental subjects employed by our research group are laboratory mice and rats. However, we also engage in collaborative research with groups that conduct human studies. Furthermore, in addition to comprehensive behavioral phenotyping, we employ endocrinological techniques to assess the hormonal impact of stressors. We investigate stress-induced alterations in the autonomic nervous system through the use of in vivo biotelemetry methods. To elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms, we utilize a range of techniques, including immunohistochemistry, PCR, optogenetics, pharmacogenetics, and an epigenetic approach. We investigate the potential efficacy of pharmacological interventions based on the identified neuronal connections and mechanisms using behavioral pharmacological methods. In alignment with these objectives, our research is currently focused on three primary areas: 1. The objective of the first research topic is to investigate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a metabolic disease. The second research topic aims to elucidate the role of the median raphe nucleus and its specific cells in behavior using Cre-mice and opto- and pharmacogenetic techniques. The third research topic is to characterize the 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and identify new drug targets.