Brian A. McCool

Synaptogyrin-3 Prevents Cocaine Addiction and Dopamine Deficits

This study shows that synaptogyrin-3 reduces cocaine self-administration and prevents dopamine deficits by enhancing dopamine signaling and cognitive flexibility in rats.

Chronic Alcohol Dysregulates Glutamatergic Function in the Basolateral Amygdala in a Projection- and Sex-Specific Manner

This study shows that chronic alcohol exposure alters glutamatergic function in specific BLA neuron projections and sexes, leading to increased excitability.

Withdrawal from Chronic Ethanol Exposure Increases Postsynaptic Glutamate Function of Insular Cortex Projections to the Rat Basolateral Amygdala

The paper examines how chronic ethanol exposure affects synaptic plasticity in the AIC-BLA circuit during withdrawal and shows that ketamine prevents these changes and associated anxiety-like behavior.

Chronic Ethanol Differentially Modulates Glutamate Release from Dorsal and Ventral Prefrontal Cortical Inputs onto Rat Basolateral Amygdala Principal Neurons

This study shows chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal increase glutamate release from dorsal mPFC terminals but decrease it from ventral mPFC terminals in the BLA, affecting anxiety-like behavior.

Polymodal Sensory Thalamic Inputs to the Rat Lateral Amygdala are Facilitated by Chronic Ethanol Exposure and Regulate Withdrawal-associated Anxiety

This study shows chronic ethanol exposure enhances glutamate release from thalamic inputs to the rat lateral amygdala, and manipulating these inputs reduces withdrawal-related anxiety.