PhD, Brendan Walker

My long-term research interest has been the neurobiology of motivational systems and how acute and long-term alcohol (and other drugs of abuse such as heroin) impact neural systems to promote increased drug seeking and consumption. Utilizing a combination of behavioral, anatomical, pharmacological, immunohistochemical, molecular and genetic approaches, we are currently evaluating the neuroadaptations produced by chronic ethanol exposure that promote enhanced intake of these abused compounds. Consequently, we are extremely interested in dependence-induced depression and anxiety because they appear to lay the foundation for the observed increases in the negative reinforcing properties of abused substances. As an extension of this work, we also focus on the morphological and molecular mechanisms of plasticity associated with negative reinforcement learning. The lab is also investigating altered executive function produced by chronic alcohol and drug exposure.
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Robert and Lee Roskamp Endowed Professor of Biological Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Vice Chair for Research, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Professor, Molecular Medicine