Malaika Mahmood

The paper identifies a functional dichotomy in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, showing that micro opioid receptor neurons encode nociceptive states while enkephalin-releasing neurons drive pain relief in various contexts.

The paper identifies a cortical circuit in mice modulated by opioids and develops a gene therapy to mimic opioid analgesia for chronic pain.

This study identifies PKCδ neurons in the central amygdala as key mediators of fentanyl withdrawal by showing their hyperactivity and role in withdrawal signs.

This paper creates an anatomical and molecular atlas of the nociceptive medial thalamus, identifying a distinct population of opioid receptor-expressing neurons involved in pain processing.

This study identifies a BLAnoci ensemble in the basolateral amygdala that mediates both acute and chronic pain behavior through a novel amygdala-striatal circuit involving the nucleus accumbens shell.

This study uses motion sequencing to analyze behavioral syllables after spinal cord injury, revealing recovery patterns shaped by injury severity and individual differences.