Dr. Holahan uses an integrative neuroscience approach to study both endogenous and exogenous influences on neural structure and function in the context of behavior. Our lab examines the emergence of spatial information processing and long-term memory storage in rodents during development and associated axonal and dendritic changes. We also use transgenic mouse models to investigate potential novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Finally, we study exogenous (environmental toxins, experimental brain injury, pharmacological manipulations) influences on brain function (immediate early gene expression, inflammatory markers) and structure (axonal and dendritic connectivity).
Eligible to supervise at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Over the last six years, the research in the Holahan Lab has centered around the use of an integrative neuroscience approach to study influences on neural structure and function in the context of behaviour. The following are some of the areas of focus:
Preadolescent exposure to a sexually mature, unrelated male rat reduces postadolescent social recognition memory and CA2 c-Fos labeling. Maletta T, Palummieri M, Correa J, Holahan MR. Front Behav Neurosci. 2023 Jan 26;17:1104866. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1104866. eCollection 2023.
Exploring the Connection Between the Gut Microbiome and Parkinson's Disease Symptom Progression and Pathology: Implications for Supplementary Treatment Options. Chan DG, Ventura K, Villeneuve A, Du Bois P, Holahan MR. J Parkinsons Dis. 2022;12(8):2339-2352. doi: 10.3233/JPD-223461.
Relating strain fields with microtubule changes in porcine cortical sulci following drop impact. Hoffe B, Mazurkiewicz A, Thomson H, Banton R, Piehler T, Petel OE, Holahan MR. J Biomech. 2021 Nov 9;128:110708. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110708. Epub 2021 Aug 27.
Predictors of Concussion Outcomes in Individuals With ADHD. Lambert M, Marshall C, Holahan MR. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2021 Mar-Apr 01;36(2):120-127. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000621.
Hippocampal and anterior cingulate cortex contribution to the processing of recently-acquired and remotely stored spatial memories in rats trained during preadolescence. Tzakis N, Bosnic T, Holahan MR. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2020 Sep;173:107271. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107271. Epub 2020 Jun 19.
The effects of morphine withdrawal and conditioned withdrawal on memory consolidation and c-Fos expression in the central amygdala. Baidoo N, Wolter M, Holahan MR, Teale T, Winters B, Leri F. Addict Biol. 2021 Mar;26(2):e12909. doi: 10.1111/adb.12909. Epub 2020 May 17.
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