Detail

Keywords

Biological Psychiatry; Cerebral Cortex; Cognitive Science; Dopamine; GABAergic Neurons; Limbic System; Motivation; Neuropharmacology; Neurophysiology and behavioral; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; Stress, Psychological

Research group(s)

• Network pharmacology
  Head: Ornella Valenti
  Research Area: Neuropsychopharmacology; biological psychiatry
  Members:
  Ornella Valenti

Research interests

Our research focuses on circuit function and neuropsychopharmacology, aiming to understand how brain networks are organized and operate under physiological conditions and how they become dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. Using murine models, we investigate the neuronal circuits underlying cognition, motivation, and social behavior, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms linking stress exposure to increased vulnerability to psychiatric conditions, especially psychosis and schizophrenia.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

To investigate the causal role of specific circuits and neurotransmitter systems in brain function and disease, we employ a system- as well as a cellular-oriented approach in behavioral and genetic murine models, and assess the dynamics of specific neuronal circuits by electrophysiological recordings, combined with pharmacological, chemogenetic, and optogenetic manipulations

• Electrophysiology, in vivo single-unit and intracellular recordings;
• Electrophysiology, multi-unit recordings by acute silicon probes;
• (Electrophysiology, in-vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings);
• Preclinical network pharmacology;
• Cognitive and motivational behavioral tasks;
• Rodent models of psychiatric disorders;
• Immunohistochemistry; In situ Hybridization
• Computational analysis

Grants

• Rescuing neuronal network from amphetamine-sensitization (2023)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Medical-Theoretical Sciences, Pharmacy (100%)
  Principal Investigator
• Role of the medial prefrontal cortex - basolateral amygdala circuit in consolidation of fear extinction (2007)
  Source of Funding: Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, NARSAD Young Investigator Award (USA)
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Valenti, O., Zambon, A. & Boehm, S., 2021. Orchestration of Dopamine Neuron Population Activity in the Ventral Tegmental Area by Caffeine: Comparison With Amphetamine. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyab049.
2. Valenti, O., Mikus, N. & Klausberger, T., 2018. The cognitive nuances of surprising events: exposure to unexpected stimuli elicits firing variations in neurons of the dorsal CA1 hippocampus. Brain Structure and Function, 223(7), pp.3183–3211. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00429-018-1681-6.
3. Valenti, O. et al., 2011. Antipsychotic Drugs Rapidly Induce Dopamine Neuron Depolarization Block in a Developmental Rat Model of Schizophrenia. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(34), pp.12330-12338. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2808-11.2011.
4. Valenti, O., Lodge, D.J. & Grace, A.A., 2011. Aversive Stimuli Alter Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neuron Activity via a Common Action in the Ventral Hippocampus. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(11), pp.4280-4289. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5310-10.2011.
5. Valenti, O. et al., 2003. Group III Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-Mediated Modulation of the Striatopallidal Synapse. The Journal of Neuroscience, 23(18), pp.7218–7226. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-18-07218.2003.