Check out our new paper in Brain Sciences from Kate Lawson, and rotating UCI PhD students Aby Flores and Rachael Hokenson! We show that inhibiting nucleus accumbens neurons with DREADDs suppresses the number, but not the quality of amphetamine-induced ultrasonic vocalizations.

Christina Ruiz, Alexa Torrens, and Valeria Lallai lead our new paper characterizing THC aerosol (vapor) dosing in male and female adolescent rats. Check it out!

Here is our new paper in Journal of Neuroscience, showing that GABA neurons in the VP are essential for highly motivated behavior, and decisions about whether to take a risk to get a reward. Mitch is a DSPAN F99/K00 Awardee, and is currently looking for a postdoctoral position in the US!

Check out these new papers from our collaboration with Dr. Tallie Z Baram, led by MD/PhD student Sophia Levis! Levis et al EJN 2021 Levis et al Frontiers 2021

We have new paper in Neuropsychopharmacology, led by Christina Ruiz and Alexa Torrens (of the Piomelli Lab here at UCI), describes major sex differences in THC metabolism, behavioral effects, and effects on brain neural network activity (in collaboration with Vivek Swarup, also of UCI). Check it out!

Morgan James (Rutgers University) and I wrote a summary of an exciting new paper in Neuropsychopharmacology from the lab of Susan Ferguson (U Washington). Check it out!

Its been a good 2019. Mitch Farrell got an F31 NRSA from NIDA. We published numerous papers from our lab and in collaboration with others. Closing out the year, check out the new ones led by Mitch Farrell and Christina Ruiz, with Erik Castillo (and the Hnasko Lab), and Sophie Levis, with Christina Perrone (and Read More…

Neuroscience is a team sport, and we like to play with others! Check out these recent publications with the Tim Allen Lab at FIU, the Michaelides and Richmond Labs at NIH, and the Ostlund and Liljeholm Labs at UCI  

Check out our new paper in Journal of Neuroscience! We show that dopamine neurons play complex, and context-dependent roles in cocaine reinstatement and intake, using multiple types of DREADDs.  

Check out our new paper on an old project, in collaboration with Marci Mitchell and Kent Berridge at U Michigan! Mitchell, MR, Berridge, KC, & Mahler, SV. Endocannabinoid-enhanced “liking” in nucleus accumbens shell hedonic hotspot requires endogenous opioid signals. (2018) Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research, 3(1), 166-170. doi: 10.1089/can.2018.0021