Benedetta Leuner, Ph.D.

Current Research Description

My laboratory investigates structural plasticity in the adult brain, its modification by endocrine and experiential factors and the functional consequences of these changes. My specific interests focus on the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex; adult neurogenesis, dendritic spine alterations and dendritic remodeling; cognitive, emotional and social behaviors including learning, memory, attention, anxiety, reproduction and maternal care; and neuropeptide hormones, particularly oxytocin. We rely on a variety of research tools from behavioral neuroscience, cellular and molecular biology, neuroendocrinology and neuroanatomy to address questions such as: How does the brain change with experience? Does structural plasticity underlie changes in brain function? How does the brain protect itself from drastic alterations in hormone levels that occur as a result of life altering experiences?