Brainstem/hypothalamic/limbic circuits Professors and Supervisors

Paul Michael MaceyView profile

Professor

University of California, Los AngelesUnited States

Paul Michael Macey is a Professor in the Nursing Department at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where he leads a productive research program focused on neuroimaging and autonomic regulation in sleep disorders. His work primarily examines the neurological consequences of obstructive sleep apnea, with particular attention to gender differences and pain processing mechanisms. As Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded projects, he has established himself as a significant contributor to sleep medicine research. Sex-specific brain injury and symptoms in sleep apnea (NIH R56NR017435, 2018-2020) GABA and glutamate changes underlying altered autonomic function in obstructive sleep apnea (NIH R01HL135562, 2018-2022) Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Gender Biology, and Autonomic Regulation (NIH R01NR013693, 2013-2019) Gender Differences in Neural Deficits Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (NIH R21NR011230, 2009-2012) Dr. Macey's research interests center on the neurological and physiological impacts of sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea. His work employs advanced neuroimaging techniques including ultra-high field MRI to examine brain structure and function. A significant portion of his research investigates sex differences in how sleep apnea affects the brain and autonomic regulation, recognizing that men and women may experience different neurological consequences from the same condition. His recent work has expanded into pain processing mechanisms, migraine research, and the relationship between sleep disorders and cardiovascular function. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a clear progression in methodology, with increasing use of 7-Tesla MRI technology for more precise imaging of brain structures involved in pain processing and autonomic control. His research consistently demonstrates how obstructive sleep apnea alters brain chemistry (particularly GABA and glutamate levels), disrupts functional connectivity networks, and affects autonomic regulation. The gender-specific focus remains prominent across his publications, showing how neurological impacts differ between men and women. Dr. Macey's laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how sleep apnea affects brain structure, particularly in regions like the insular cortex, hippocampus, and brainstem structures involved in pain modulation. His work has helped establish connections between sleep-disordered breathing and altered pain processing, providing insights that could improve treatment approaches for patients with both sleep disorders and chronic pain conditions. As a mentor and research leader, Dr. Macey has directed numerous NIH-funded projects examining the neurological consequences of sleep disorders. His laboratory regularly publishes high-impact research in top journals across neuroscience, sleep medicine, and neuroimaging fields. His collaborative approach is evident in the diverse author lists on his publications, which include researchers from multiple disciplines and institutions.

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Linda RinamanView profile

Professor

Florida State UniversityUnited States

Linda Rinaman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida State University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania (1989). Her research focuses on neural circuits mediating stress responses, emotionality in rodent models, and the impact of early life adversity on visceral circuits. She leads an NIH-funded lab studying hindbrain-to-forebrain pathways and gut-brain interactions, using viral tools, chemogenetics, and behavioral assays. Current projects explore anxiety-like behavior modulation and neural adaptations to early life stress. Rinaman's work integrates anatomical and functional analyses of brainstem/hypothalamic/limbic circuits, with a focus on GLP-1 neurons and noradrenergic pathways. She collaborates on studies of energy balance and dietary factors in ingestive behavior. Postdoctoral fellow Molly McDougle works in her lab. Rinaman has published extensively on stress physiology, neuroendocrine signaling, and visceral sensory systems, with recent work emphasizing gut-brain axis mechanisms. Education: Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1989 Research Interests: Dr. Rinaman investigates how neural circuits integrate physiological and emotional stress responses, particularly the role of hindbrain and hypothalamic systems. Her lab uses rodent models to study: Functional organization of brainstem-limbic circuits Early life adversity's effects on gene expression and synaptic connectivity GLP-1 neuron projections and stress modulation Visceral sensory feedback influencing food intake Lab Activities: The lab employs advanced techniques including Cre-conditional viruses, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and confocal microscopy. Current NIH-funded projects address anxiety behavior pathways and gut-brain circuit adaptations to early adversity. Recent studies highlight GLP-1 neuron collaterals and vagal sensory modulation of stress responses. Awards and Recognition: (No specific awards listed in provided text.) Grants and Advising: Rinaman leads NIH-funded projects and mentors postdoctoral researchers. She is currently not recruiting graduate students for 2024. Collaborations focus on interdisciplinary approaches to stress physiology and energy balance. Labs/Teams: The Rinaman Lab at Florida State University is part of the Department of Psychology's research group studying stress, emotion, and visceral control systems. Collaborators include neuroendocrinologists and systems neuroscientists.

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Noemi MeylakhView profile

Research Fellow

University of SydneyAustralia

Dr. Noemi Meylakh is a Research Fellow at the School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health. She is an active member of the Brain and Mind Centre, where she conducts neuroimaging research on migraine pathophysiology. Her work focuses on central nervous system alterations in chronic migraine, hypothalamic activity, endogenous pain modulation, and the effects of CGRP inhibitor treatments. Research Focus Meylakh's research employs advanced 7-Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate: Neurobiological mechanisms underlying episodic and chronic migraine Functional oscillations in brainstem regions across migraine cycles Trigeminal nerve microstructure alterations Pain processing circuitries and hypothalamic-limbic connectivity Placebo analgesia mechanisms and pain perception variability Publications Overview Her 15 most recent publications (2018-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on migraine neurobiology using high-field MRI. Key themes include: Structural and functional brain alterations in migraineurs Pain modulation circuitry dynamics Peripheral immune interactions Brainstem-hypothalamic functional relationships Advanced neuroimaging methodology development Awards and Grants Neil and Norma Hill Foundation Seed Grant (2023) Brain and Mind Research Development Grant (2022) for chronic migraine neurobiology International Headache Society Junior Research Grant (2021) Research Supervision Currently advising: Allan: Pathophysiology of chronic pain post-spinal cord injury and cannabidiol effects Ashleigh Wake: Neural networks underlying chronic migraine Collaborative Networks Works within multidisciplinary teams at the Brain and Mind Centre, collaborating with researchers in neuroscience, pain medicine, and advanced imaging. Contributes to longitudinal migraine studies and clinical neuroimaging protocols.

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Gilbert KirouacView profile

Professor

University of ManitobaCanada

Dr. Gilbert Kirouac is a Professor in the Department of Oral Biology at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry , University of Manitoba, with cross-appointments in Psychiatry and Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences. His research explores how brain circuits translate emotional experiences into motivated behaviors, focusing on the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) and its role in fear, anxiety, and stress. Education : BA in Psychology, MSc and PhD in Anatomy (University of Manitoba), Postdoctoral Fellowships in Physiology (University of Western Ontario and University of Calgary). Dr. Kirouac’s work employs anatomical, pharmacological, and molecular techniques in animal models to investigate PVT connectivity, neurobiology of stress, and interactions with dopamine and orexin systems. His research has significantly influenced global studies on the PVT, starting from the mid-1990s. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) , he examines synaptic function in thalamic circuits and their role in stress-related disorders like PTSD. Key article trends include: PVT connectivity with nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and extended amygdala Role of orexin/hypocretin and dopamine in anxiety and motivation Neural circuits balancing fear and reward-seeking Stress-induced social avoidance and behavioral plasticity Dysregulation in psychiatric and movement disorder models Dr. Kirouac holds an active email contact ( gilbert.kirouac@umanitoba.ca ) and maintains affiliations across multiple departments, reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise in behavioral neuroscience and neuroanatomy.

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Lewis CrawfordView profile

Research Fellow

University of SydneyAustralia

Dr. Lewis Crawford is a Research Fellow at the School of Medical Science, University of Sydney. His work focuses on investigating cortical and brainstem circuitry in acute/chronic pain states using high-field MRI and PET. He collaborates with institutions in Canada (University of Toronto) and Singapore (National University of Singapore) on neuropathic pain research. Teaching responsibilities include Neuroanatomy and Central Nervous System Biology. Research interests emphasize brain mechanisms of pain modulation, placebo/nocebo effects, and glial activity in chronic pain. Key approaches include animal models, translational research, and medical imaging. Notable collaborations involve diagnosing and designing experiments for orofacial pain pathophysiology. Publications span 2021–2025, with recent work comparing neural activity in placebo/nocebo effects across species and exploring midbrain circuitry via ultra-high field imaging. Media coverage includes Science Magazine and Nature articles highlighting his contributions to understanding pain pathways.

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Luke HendersonView profile

Professor

University of SydneyAustralia

Professor Luke Henderson is a faculty member in the Department of Anatomy & Histology at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences. He is affiliated with the Brain and Mind Centre. His research focuses on central changes in acute and chronic pain, particularly exploring brainstem mechanisms and altered brain networks in chronic pain conditions. Current research includes investigating placebo analgesia, endogenous pain modulation, and the neural underpinnings of conditions like complex regional pain syndrome and spinal cord injury-related pain. Key research interests span neurosciences, chronic pain, cardiovascular diseases, and spectroscopy. He supervises students studying topics such as chronic neuropathic pain mechanisms and spinal cord injury pathophysiology. His work has been published in high-impact journals like NeuroImage , Journal of Neuroscience , and Pain . Publications highlight advancements in understanding pain modulation, brain imaging techniques, and translational pain research. His studies employ fMRI, PET imaging, and electrophysiological methods to dissect neural circuits involved in pain perception and autonomic regulation. Professor Henderson collaborates widely, with research spanning neuroimaging standards for migraine, gut-brain interactions in pain, and the role of the hypothalamus in autonomic control.

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Kay TyeView profile

Professor

Salk Institute for Biological StudiesUnited States

Kay Tye, PhD is a Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the Systems Neurobiology Laboratory. She holds the Wylie Vale Chair and is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Her research focuses on understanding the neural circuits underlying emotion, motivation, and social behavior. Tye employs advanced techniques like optogenetics to dissect circuits in the amygdala and limbic system, linking them to behaviors like fear, reward-seeking, and social interaction. Her work has revealed how distinct neural pathways govern positive and negative valence, informing treatments for anxiety, addiction, and mood disorders. Education: Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT PhD in Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco Research Interests: Tye’s lab explores social homeostasis, the neural basis of stress responses, and how social isolation impacts behavior and addiction. Her work bridges molecular, circuit, and behavioral levels, using multidisciplinary approaches to map how circuits encode valence and drive adaptive behavior. Recent studies include identifying how social exclusion amplifies pain perception and uncovering cortical circuits governing social competition. Awards & Honors: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2021) Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists (2021) NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (2017) Technology Review’s 'Top 35 Innovators Under 35' (2014) Grants & Advising: Tye leads a lab with a focus on mentorship, emphasizing collaborative environments and trainee development. Her lab has pioneered technologies like AlphaTracker for behavioral analysis and developed novel optogenetic methods to study neural circuits. Labs & Teams: Her lab at Salk integrates physiology, genetics, and imaging to study social behavior and emotional processing. Collaborations span addiction neuroscience, stress biology, and translational approaches to mental health.

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