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MA LAB
Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Brain Dysfunction
WELCOME TO
THE MA LAB!
The Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Brain Dysfunction, directed by Professor Yao-Ying Ma, studies the pathologic adaptations in diseased brains at multiple levels, including synaptic, cellular, circuitry and system levels. The major research directions include developmental alcohol exposure, long persistence of drug craving, and emotional components of neurodegenerative diseases. We employ a diverse range of technical approaches, such as whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, biochemical analyses, single cell staining combined with confocal imaging to examine spine morphology, transgenic model animals, behavioral evaluations such as operant goal-directed or habitual behavior, anxiety-like and depression-like behavioral symptoms. Our general aims are to explore the underlying mechanisms in a more precise way and to reverse aberrant neuronal and synaptic dysfunctions.
Research Highlights
May 2024
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Congratulations to Dr. Chen and our team members on the release of the preprint titled "Decoding the Role of Secondary Motor Cortex Neuronal Ensembles during Cocaine Self-Administration: Insights from Longitudinal in vivo Calcium Imaging via Miniscopes". This marks our first research article featuring our in vivo Ca2+ imaging data. Stay tuned! More manuscripts are on the way.
June 2023
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Congratulations to Dr. Donald Huang and our team members on the publication in Biological Psychiatry!
Feb 2022
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Congratulations to Dr. Guo and our team members on the publication in Molecular Psychiatry!
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Research Direction 3
Neurodegenerative
Diseases
Research Direction 2
Cocaine/Opiate
Addiction
Research Direction 1
Developmental
alcohol exposure
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