Welcome

Unlocking the complexity and immense interconnectedness of the central nervous system which dictates the properties and processes of the behavioral mechanisms underlying active responding to a threat is a major goal of the Sears Lab. To this end, we use Signaled Active Avoidance (SAA) behavioral paradigm in which animals can learn to perform an action to avoid imminent threats. We find that the amygdala, a brain area important for passive reactions, i.e. freezing is also important for active responding to threats. We also find that brain regions and neural circuits important for SAA may overlap with those required for seeking food, sex, drugs, etc. For example, we recently found that interactions between  the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens are important for SAA. We have also found the orexin system plays an integral role in motivating SAA behavior. We seek to acquire a detailed understanding of the neural circuits and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of coping, both passive and active. The ultimate goal of our work is to lay the groundwork to develop better therapies for individuals suffering from stress and anxiety-related disorders. Have a look at some of our projects below.