Neuroanatomy
Our Research Group
- Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Anne Albrecht
- Dr. rer. nat. Ines Erdmann-Wolff
- Dr. rer. nat. Vsevolods Girsovics
- Dr. rer. nat. Sebastian Stork
- Lisa Schwab, MSc.
- Gina Marie Krause, MSc.
- Lara Mariel Chirich Barreira, MSc.
- Laleh Rezaee Nafzizi, MSc.
Our Research Area
We investigate how stress influences anxiety behavior, learning, and memory throughout the lifespan. To do this, we use various stress models in rodents.
In particular, we are interested in how such stress experiences shape the local circuits of GABAergic interneurons, signal transmission via modulatory neuropeptides, and the interactions between astrocytes and neurons in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus.
To achieve this, we use biochemical and molecular tools such as high-resolution gene expression analyses with laser microdissection and quantitative PCR. We combine these methods with tests of emotional and cognitive function in transgenic mice and following acute pharmacological and viral interventions.
Further information (in English): www.albrechtlab.de
Our Projects
Mechanisms of Stress Adaptation
Stress is a part of our daily lives, and we are usually well-equipped to cope with difficult events. However, if stress persists for too long or becomes too intense, mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders can develop. The threshold at which stress leads to such maladaptation, however, varies greatly from person to person. Using various stress models, we investigate how stress affects behavior and brain circuits. We use methods such as behavioral profiling to identify individuals who are particularly affected by stress—or who demonstrate resilience. To uncover the brain’s signatures of stress resilience and vulnerability, we focus primarily on GABAergic interneurons in the hippocampus and the role of neuropeptides such as NPY.
(Contact: Anne Albrecht, Lisa Schwab, Gina Krause)
Axes between the body and the brain during stress and learning
Our brain constantly receives signals from the rest of the body and can monitor the body’s condition and the effects of stress through hormones and inflammatory factors, for example. At the same time, stress hormones such as cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 or IL-11 also affect the structure and function of synaptic connections as well as metabolism in neurons and glial cells in the brain. These reciprocal interactions thus shape learning and memory as well as stress adaptation. The goal of our projects is to investigate the underlying cellular mechanisms and the interactions on circuits for emotion and cognition both in in vitro cell culture models and in vivo.
(Contact: Anne, Albrecht, Ines Erdmann-Wolff, Sebastian Stork)
Hippocampal Circuits in Learning & Memory
Stress can impair our cognitive abilities and influence our memories. In our research project, we investigate how our brain suffers under stress and how we can support it. For example, in SFB1436 (https://sfb1436.de), we are exploring how the neuropeptide orexin can activate our cognitive resources and improve performance when our sleep-wake cycle is disrupted. We are also investigating how stress influences our decisions and how our memories of fear and stress are shaped.
Our goal is to lay the groundwork for treating cognitive impairments caused by stress, aging, and other factors. We hope that our findings can contribute to the development of new therapies that help people improve their cognitive performance and strengthen their memories
(Contacts: Anne Albrecht, Vsevolods Girsorvics, Lara Mariel Chirich Barreira, Laleh Rezaee Nafzizi)