Laurence Coutellier

Dr. Laurence Coutellier is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University, specializing in Behavioral Neuroscience. He is affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Neuroscience Graduate Program. His research focuses on neural circuits underlying social and cognitive functions, with a particular emphasis on genetic and environmental factors affecting prefrontal cortex development and their implications for neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. His lab employs multidisciplinary techniques including optogenetics, molecular biology, and behavioral assays in mice.

Education:
- PhD, Justus Liebig University of Giessen (2008)
- MSc, University of Rennes (2002)
- BS, University of Paris 6 (2000)

Research Interests:
His work examines how genetic modifications and early environmental conditions influence neural circuit development. Key areas include stress-induced prefrontal circuit alterations, sex-specific neurobiological responses to stress, and the role of parvalbumin interneurons in anxiety and cognitive functions. Recent projects involve studying adolescent neural maturation and the impact of prenatal stress on social recognition.

Awards:
- 2022 Eliot S. Hearst Memorial Lectureship Award (Indiana University)
- 2021 Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring (OSU)
- 2017 NIH Early Career Reviewer Program (Outstanding Investigator)
- 2017 Departmental Distinguished Teaching Award (OSU)

Grants & Projects:
- 2022: Whitehall Foundation 3-year grant studying adolescent neural circuit maturation and social function acquisition.
- Active collaborations on Alzheimer’s models (β1-adrenergic receptor studies) and alcohol-induced neuroinflammation.

Labs & Teams:
Coutellier Lab at OSU integrates behavioral, molecular, and genetic approaches. Current projects include:
- Role of Kv3.1 potassium channels in anxiety.
- Glucocorticoid impacts on memory engrams.
- Stress resilience mechanisms in female mice.