Wightman Research Group -- Behavioral Group

The Behavioral Group

Neurotransmission involves both chemical and electrical communication between individual cells, or neurons, in the brain. Carbon-fiber microelectrodes can be used to detect both neurotransmitter release and neuronal firing. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) at carbon-fiber microelectrodes, we are able to measure these processes in awake, behaving animals. This technique allows for excellent temporal and spatial resolution and as a result, we are able to investigate neurotransmission on a millisecond timescale with micrometer resolution. By using principal component regression, we are able to utilize our carbon-fiber microelectrodes as multivariate sensors with which we can detect changes in catecholamine concentration, pH, and O2 levels.
Our primary research goal is to investigate the origin and role of rapid catecholamine transmission in the brain. We use FSCV in combination with a variety of behavioral and pharmacological techniques to achieve this goal.


Nina Owesson-White, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Psychology owessonw@email.unc.edu	Nina earned her M.A in neurobiology at Lund University, Sweden. Following graduation she spent a year at King’s College, London, where she was working as a research assistant studying regeneration of peripheral nerves. She then joined the neurotransmission lab, at the Royal London Hospital, where she obtained her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Jon Stamford and Dr. Danny McLaughlin. Her graduate work focused on Locus Coeruleus and Dorsal Raphe interactions. Nina joined the Wightman lab in August 2005 to study dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway using electrochemistry (FSCV) and electrophysiology in freely-moving rats.

Jinwoo Park , Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemistry jinwoo@email.unc.edu	Jinwoo received his B.E. in Industrial Chemistry and MA in Chemistry at Kyungpook National University in South Korea, and Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in 2006 at Michigan State University under the direction of professor Greg M Swain and James J Galligan. His graduate work focused on i) the design and implementation of instrumentation for directly monitoring norepinephrine (NE) release and vasoconstriction using microelectrodes (diamond and carbon fiber) and a video imaging system, ii) fundamental differences in sympathetic neuroeffector transmission between rat mesenteric arteries and veins, and iii) hypertension-associated changes in NE release and adrenergic vasoconstriction mechanisms in rat mesenteric arteries and veins. After graduating in 2006, He joined the Wightman group as a post-doc in September. His research here has focused on real time monitoring of endogenous NE release in the rat brain by in vivo electrochemical methods. This study will help to understand i) kinetics of NE release and elimination in anesthetized and freely moving rat brain, and ii) behavioral reactivity to stress and reward modulated by NE.

Parastoo Hashemi , Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemistry phashemi@email.unc.edu	Parastoo earned an MSCi degree with first class honors in Chemistry at King’s College London. After a 6 month research placement in the laboratory of Prof. Paul Christensen at the University of Newcastle, she joined the lab of Dr. Martyn Boutelle in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London. She gained her PhD carrying out a project involving development and application of electroanalytical sensing systems to clinical brain trauma. She joined the Wightman group in Jan. 2007 as a post-doc to study the application of FSCV to in vivo serotonin monitoring. In her spare time, Parastoo plays the flute, plays with her cat and tries her best to remain European.

Nii Addy , Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Neuroscience naddy@email.unc.edu	Nii earned his B.S. in Biology at Duke University where he worked with Dr. Edward Levin to study the effects of nicotine on memory related tasks. He later completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Yale University under the mentorship of Dr. Marina Picciotto. Nii joined the Wightman lab in 2007 to examine cocaine and nicotine effects on dopamine release and neuronal cell firing in the brain using electrochemical and electrophysiological techniques. In his spare time, Nii enjoys playing music, watching Duke basketball and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Fabio Cacciapaglia , Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Neuroscience facaccia@email.unc.edu	Fabio received a PhD in Pharmacology as a Pharmacist from University of Cagliari (Italy). In his previous work, he used microdialysis to study how antidepressant drugs modify dopamine and norepinephrine levels in cortical areas. As a PhD student, his research was focused on monitoring extracellular dopamine during self-administration of drug of abuse. Using microdialysis, he studied differential neurochemical and behavioural adaptation after contingent and non-contingent exposure to cocaine and heroine. He joined the Wightman lab in August 2007 and his current project involves FSCV measurements of dopamine and simultaneous single-unit electrophysiological recordings during operant responding for natural reward.

Zoe McElligott , Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Neuroscience zoemce@email.unc.edu	Zoe received a B.S. in Neural Science from New York University in 2003 before moving on to Vanderbilt University where she obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience in Danny Winder's Lab. In the Winder Lab, Zoe characterized the induction and mechanism underlying long-term depression (LTD) of excitatory transmission via alpha1-adrenergic receptor activation in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST) and began to explore the persistence of this plasticity with behaviorally salient challenges. Zoe joined the Wightman Lab in April 2009 and is eager to explore norepinephrine dynamics in response to stress, anxiety and other behavioral models.

Khristy Fontillas Lab Coordinator fontilla@email.unc.edu	Khristy graduated with a BS in Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2008. She is currently working with Jinwoo Park, studying endogenous NE release in the rat brain by in vivo electrochemical methods. Outside of lab, Khristy enjoys, playing racquetball, watching Carolina basketball and a good cup of coffee.

Liza Rathbun Unidergraduate in Chemistry rliza@email.unc.edu	Liza is a Senior Chemistry major from Wilmington, NC. She joined the lab in September 2007 and has worked on several projects studying dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway using FSCV techniques in freely-moving rats. She will now extend her studies to include the BNST under the supervision of Zoe McElligott. Outside of lab, Liza enjoys running, yoga, and lattes.

Julie Gras-Najjar Unidergraduate in Chemistry jjugnajj@gmail.com	Julie is a Senior Chemistry major from Wilmington, North Carolina. She is currently doing her undergraduate research under Parastoo Hashemi, working to measure dopamine and serotonin in the behaving rat's brain using FSCV techniques. Besides rats, Julie also loves food, reading a good book, and shaming people who challenge her at ping pong.

Rinchen Lama Undergraduate in Biology rinchen@email.unc.edu	Rinchen is a junior biology and history major from Raleigh, North Carolina. She joined the Wightman lab in September 2008 and is currently studying dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway using FSCV and electrophysiology in freely-moving rats under the supervision of Nina Owesson-White. Outside of lab, Rinchen enjoys traveling, cooking and playing tennis.

Wightman Group

Neuroscience and Analytical Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill