Impairing memory consolidation to prevent the development of anticipatory nausea

Conditioned context aversion learning is an important topic for cancer research. After cancer patients have experienced a number of chemotherapy and radiation sessions (US; unconditioned stimuli), the chemotherapy equipment and other physical environmental cues, such as a clock on the wall or interactions with nurses, became conditioned stimuli that trigger anticipatory nausea (AN) as the conditioned response. Thus, preventing the conditioned context aversion that occurs as a result of the formation of the association between the context and the US is one possible strategy for alleviating AN in cancer patients. Our team is developing a novel and innovative approach to prevent the development of a conditioned response by manipulating the memory consolidation of conditioned context aversion learning using amnestic drugs in inbred mice. My laboratory aims to provide novel insights into a recurring problem and ultimately help to develop treatments to alleviate the burden of AN in cancer patients

This project is supported by TÜBİTAK 2232 International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers Program.

Investigating the Effects of Omega Supplementation on the Dopaminergic System and Behavior in Offspring Exposed to Maternal Obesity and a High-Fat Diet

Exposure to maternal obesity and high-fat food consumption during pregnancy and lactation can lead to obesity and related metabolic diseases in offspring, as well as anxiety, learning difficulties, and hedonic eating disorders. Our project will investigate the alterations in the mesolimbic pathway of C57BL/6J offspring subjected to maternal obesity and a high-fat diet, along with the impact of these changes on their behavior, taking sex differences into account. Additionally, we will investigate the therapeutic potential of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation within this framework. This interdisciplinary research is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying obesity, a global epidemic and a significant burden on healthcare systems, and for determining the effectiveness of omega-3 in treating behavioral disorders associated with maternal obesity.

This project is supported by ADEP.

Impairing Effect of Behavioral and Pharmacological Interventions on Fear Memory After CS or US Reminder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance and hyperarousal. At the time of traumatic event, more than one cue around the context can become a conditioned stimulus (CS) for the survivor. Hence, the type of reminder is critical when the memory undergoes the reconsolidation process. In rodents, PTSD is modelled by contextual fear conditioning (CFC) paradigm. CFC model involves exposing rodents to an unconditioned stimulus (US) that causes fear (usually shock) in a novel environment. When the animal is re-exposed to the US-paired environment, it shows a conditioned response (CR) such as freezing. Our project is focused on alleviating CR by using various behavioral and pharmacological methods as well as understanding neural mechanisms underlying fear memories. Our ultimate goal is to develop novel therapeutic approaches for PTSD and other disorders arising from learning and maladaptive memories.

This project is supported by TÜBİTAK 3501 Career Development Program.