The goal of my research is to understand the neural mechanisms which contribute to both normal as well as dysfunctional behaviors, particularly as they relate to neuropsychiatric disorders. The primary focus of this research is to understand the mechanisms of depression, anxiety and drug addiction. A second goal of my research is to understanding mechanisms of learning and memory, including both short term memories and long term memories. To explore these questions, we use a variety of behavioral tests such as locomotor activity, open field activity, elevated plus maze, and forced swim test. We also can test for cognitive changes in learning and memory using the Morris Water Maze and fear conditioning. We use a battery of tests to measure differences in transgenic mice, differences in response to drugs, or differences due to infusion of viral vectors which can target specific genes to specific locations. By systematically altering one, or a few proteins, expressed within the brain, we hope to eventually understand how these proteins contribute to form the complex constellation of behavioral outputs which can underlie abnormal responses in humans.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
L.L. Yuan*, X. Chen*, C. Zhao, S.G. Birnbaum, A. Frick, W. E. Jung, T.L. Schwarz, J. D. Sweatt, D. Johnston, "Deletion of Kv4.2 gene eliminates dendritic A-type K+ current and enhances induction of long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons." J. Neuroscience, submitted
Shalin S., Egli R.E., Birnbaum S., Roth T., Levenson J. and Sweatt, J.D., "Signal Transduction Mechanisms in Memory Disorders" Progress in Brain Research, Moller, S.B. Chapman, and S.G. Lomber, Eds, 2006
Birnbaum, S.G., Yuan, P.X., Wang, M., Vijayraghavanm S., Bloom, A.K., Davis, D.J., Gobeske, K.T., Sweatt, J.D., Manji., H.K., Arnsten, A.F.T., "Protein kinase C overactivity impairs prefrontal cortical regulation of working memory" Science, 306:882-884, 2004
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