The neuroscience of emotion - The Crane Group
The neuroscience of emotion group works to improve our understanding of how the brain processes and responds to emotionally-salient events with the aim of improving our understanding and the treatment of disorders of emotions (e.g. anxiety, depression, and PTSD).
We use behavioural models, transgenic animals, whole-cell electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and advanced microscopy to study the neural circuits involved in processing negative and positive experiences and generating emotional responses to these experiences. Recent work has been focused on understanding the role that the neuromodulator oxytocin plays in regulating emotion-related circuits in the brain. Other interests include how diet influences emotional responses to stimuli.
Expertise
- Whole-cell electrophysiology (in vitro and in vivo)
- Behavioural testing – particularly anxiety and depression and models of stress
- Immunohistochemistry
- Microscopy
Projects
- Determining the role of Oxytocin and Oxytocin-receptor expressing neurons in the basolateral amygdala and medial amygdala).
- Determining the impact of Vitamin B6 deficiency on cognitive-function and anxiety-like behaviour in rodents.
- Determining the impact of Type 2 Diabetes on cognitive-function and anxiety-like behaviour in rodents.
Affiliation
Biomedical Sciences
School of Medicine
Contact
Email: James.crane@utas.edu.au