Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders

The mission of the Emory National Biomedical Research Center (ENBRC) Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders (BNPD) is to conduct basic and translational research to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying behaviors relevant to developmental and psychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders, anxiety-related disorders, depression and addiction vulnerability. BNPD faculty members use state-of-the-art neural circuit level approaches to make rapid discoveries in rodent models that can then be translated to nonhuman primate (NHP) models and humans with the ultimate goal of translating these discoveries into novel treatment strategies to improve mental health. Techniques division researchers use include electrophysiology, epigenetics, chemogenetics (DREADDs), optogenetics, and CRISPR genome editing.

Division chief Mar Sanchez, PhD, studies the neurobiological systems that control stress physiology and emotion regulation. She is particularly interested in the effects of early experiences, such as maternal care and social stress, on the development of those brain systems and the psychopathology and pathophysiology of anxiety and mood disorders.

Division scientists serve as intellectual resources for 1) neural circuit analysis and manipulations, and 2) animal models of psychiatric disorders for other scientists within the ENBRC as well as regional, national and international collaborators.