David Mott

David Mott is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. His research focuses on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus and limbic system, with implications for epilepsy, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease. He employs electrophysiological, behavioral, immunological, and imaging techniques, including viral gene transfer approaches.

• Ph.D.: Duke University, Durham, NC
• Postdoctoral Training: Emory University and Duke University

Dr. Mott’s research centers on understanding how excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the brain is altered by experience and disease. His lab investigates changes in kainate and GABA receptors, dopamine modulation, and interneuron function in temporal lobe epilepsy. His work bridges molecular neuroscience with systems-level brain function, aiming to uncover novel therapeutic targets for neurological disorders.

The recent publications in his portfolio span from 1994 to 2025, showcasing a sustained and impactful research trajectory. His work increasingly explores cholinergic modulation in amygdala circuits, fear memory encoding, and the role of insulin resistance in hippocampal plasticity. These studies reflect a shift toward integrative neuroscience, combining molecular tools with behavioral and circuit-level analyses.

Dr. Mott has contributed to key reviews in the field, including on GABAB receptors and interneuron diversity, highlighting his role as a thought leader in synaptic neuroscience.

• The pharmacology and function of central GABAB receptors (1994)
• Interneuron Diversity series: Interneuron research--challenges and strategies (2003)

He has collaborated with prominent neuroscientists such as Robert Dingledine, James McDonald, and Julie Bratsch-Prince. His lab has secured ongoing research support, though specific grants are not listed. He mentors students and postdoctoral researchers, contributing to training the next generation of neuroscientists.

Dr. Mott’s research is conducted within the Basic Science Building at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, where his laboratory integrates electrophysiology, imaging, and molecular techniques to study brain function in health and disease.