Brain cells communicate through signaling molecules across synapses to execute variety of tasks. This communication can be disrupted by several environmental contaminants including loud noise, illicit drugs and industrial solvents frequently encountered through occupational exposures or abused as inhalants. The overarching goal of our lab is to use Analytical Chemistry (particularly, electrochemistry) and complementary tools to gain a comprehensive understanding of the interactions of these external contaminants on the brain chemistry. This research goal is achieved in the following research areas:

Fast Scan Cycle Voltammetry

Combining Analytical, Molecular-based, and Imaging Tools to Delineate the Neurochemical Bases for Inhalant Abuse Volatile organic solvents that are frequently misused as inhalants elicit devastating effects on mental health and hence the call for in-depth understanding into their pharmacodynamics and rewarding properties to lay the foundation for effective therapeutic strategies. While existing body of evidence implicates the mesolimbic dopamine pathway in the action of inhalant like toluene, the underlying neurochemical mechanisms still remain elusive. Our lab optimizes analytical tools, molecular based assays, and imaging modalities to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of inhalants on the mesolimbic dopamine system and to delineate the neural bases for inhalant abuse.

Expanding the Utility of Electrochemistry to Study the Role of Monoamine Neurotransmitters in the Central Auditory Pathways It’s becoming increasingly apparent that monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin are playing a critical role in auditory functions due to their significant presence in central auditory pathways. Our work harnesses the superior temporal resolution of fast scan cyclic voltammetry together with auditory brainstem responses to define the origin and function of dopaminergic and serotonergic inputs in the central auditory pathways and their possible disruption following acoustic trauma.

Exploring the Combined Effect of Chemical and Noise Exposures While existing evidence suggests that workers who are frequently exposed to industrial solvents risk developing auditory and vestibular dysfunctions, the neural substrates that mediate this effect of industrial solvents on the auditory/vestibular systems is unclear. Our lab seeks to mechanistically elucidate the neural substrates in the auditory/vestibular pathways that are altered in frequent exposures to organic solvents and examines the synergistic effects of chemical and noise exposures on the central auditory/vestibular systems.