James Otis

James Otis, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where he leads the Otis Lab. His research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying reward-seeking behaviors, both adaptive (foraging) and maladaptive (drug addiction).

The lab employs advanced neurotechnologies such as optogenetics, two-photon microscopy, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and head-mounted microscopes to investigate neural circuit dynamics in mouse models. Key areas of investigation include cue-reward processing, memory reconsolidation, hypothalamic-brain interactions, and neural adaptations in obesity and addiction.

Article trends demonstrate expertise in behavioral neuroscience, neural circuit mapping, and neuropharmacology of reward systems. Publications emphasize techniques like in vivo imaging, neuronal ensemble analysis, and molecular mechanisms of motivation. For lab inquiries, email otis@musc.edu.