Ph.D. Neuroscience,
M.S. Neuroscience,
M.A. Psychology,
B.S. Psychology,
Senior Staff Scientist,
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCSD Department of Psychiatry
Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCSD Group in Neurosciences
Extensive neuropsychological evidence accumulated over the past several decades has revealed that the amygdala, a structure in the medial temporal lobe, plays a central role in mediating both cognitive and autonomic aspects of emotion. To better understand the functions of the amygdala and the underlying neural mechanisms, we have employed a combination of neuroanatomical, behavioral, and molecular genetic experimental approaches. Our anatomical studies have revealed that the amygdala is selectively and topographically connected to a number of key cortical and subcortical structures known to mediate emotional responses. In addition, our studies of local connections within the amygdala have enabled us to trace the flow of information between distinct nuclei. Our behavioral studies have addressed the role of the amygdala in approach vs. avoidance of stimuli that vary in affective content. The results of these studies indicate that the amygdala is critical for assigning emotional value to sensory stimuli. Finally, we have begun to use molecular genetic techniques to explore amygdala organization and function. These studies have enabled us to identify patterns of gene expression that are unique to the different amygdala nuclei. We are beginning to exploit differential gene expression, in combination with viral transfection methods, to enable (1) temporally-controlled cell-type specific manipulations of neuronal activity in different amygdala nuclei, and (2) transynaptically trace the patterns of anatomical connections of unique cell types. These new molecular genetic approaches, in combination with more traditional behavioral and anatomical analyses, hold great promise for a detailed understanding of the brain basis of emotional behavior.
Hamann S, Stefanacci L,
Squire L, Adolphs R, Tranel D, Damasio H, and A Damasio (1996) Recognizing
facial emotion. Nature 379: 497.
Stefanacci L, Reber P, Costanza J, Wong E, Buxton R, Zola S, Squire L, and T Albright. (1998) fMRI of monkey visual cortex. Neuron 20:1051-1057.
Stefanacci L and DG Amaral (2002) Some observations on cortical inputs to the macaque monkey amygdala: An anterograde tracing study. Journal of Comparative Neurology 451(4):301-323.
Stefanacci L, ES Lein, TD Albright, and EM Callaway (2002) Regionally specific gene expression within the amygdala: An in situ hybridization study in the mouse. Soc Neurosci. Abstr., Program No. 83.1.
Stefanacci L, Clark RE, and SM Zola (2003) Selective neurotoxic amygdala lesions in monkeys disrupts activity to food and object stimuli and has limited effects on memory. Behavioral Neuroscience 117(5):1029-1043.
Lisa Stefanacci, Ph.D.
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies