Stress and serotonergic signal transduction in prefrontal cortex

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A key goal of my research program is to identify the cellular mechanisms that govern the excitability of the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that plays a key role in emotional regulation. This grant focuses on how the relationship between the serotonin receptors and their downstream effectors is altered by exposure to stress during development, in adulthood, or a combination of both developmental and adult stressors. Since serotonin receptors in prefrontal cortex play important roles in controlling emotional responses to the world around us, understanding how stress affects the balance of serotonergic signal transduction is essential to appreciate the cellular mechanisms through which stress changes how we think and feel and cope with subsequent stress.