Mazen Kheirbek, PhD

Neural circuits for emotional behaviors

The primary goal of our research is to delineate the neuronal circuits that underlie emotional behavior so that we may understand how they may be disrupted in mood and anxiety disorders. For this, we use a combination of approaches in mouse models including population calcium imaging, optogenetics, behavior, neural circuit tracing and high-density electrophysiology, in order to control genetically identified brain networks in real time.

Current projects in the lab include 1) functional mapping of hippocampal outputs to subcortical areas in the control of emotional behavior.  Using cell-type and projection specific techniques we determine how the hippocampus modulates downstream circuits to control anxiety-like behavior in real-time. 2) Identifying activity-based biomarkers for mood and anxiety states in the ventral hippocampus and extended limbic circuits.  3) Understanding how emotionally salient information is represented in the hippocampus, and how emotional state (such as increased anxiety) modulates hippocampal function.  4)  Associative learning dynamics in dentate gyrus and CA1. 5) White matter plasticity in the consolidation and long-term storage of fear memories.

For more information, go to www.kheirbeklab.org 

Lab Members

Lab Website

Academic community service and committee membership:

NS Admissions committee, NS Formal Seminar committee co-chair, NS Student Advisors/Student Progress committee, First-year advisor, hosted SRTP students in the lab, attended SACNAS for UCSF Neuro