Lucia Marti Prats

Lucia Marti Prats is a Researcher at the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge. Her work focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction, particularly alcohol dependence. She investigates dopamine signaling, compulsive behavior, and pharmacological interventions such as baclofen and D-penicillamine. Her studies employ animal models to explore how environmental factors, neuronal ensembles (e.g., Locus Coeruleus), and molecular pathways (e.g., GAT-3 in the amygdala) influence addiction vulnerability and relapse.

Her research highlights the role of dopamine-dependent mechanisms in the dorsolateral striatum and the impact of mu-opioid receptors in ethanol-induced behaviors. Key contributions include demonstrating how D-penicillamine sequesters acetaldehyde to prevent relapse-like drinking and identifying regional differences in opioid receptor modulation of dopamine transmission.

• Key Focus Areas: Compulsive drinking, neuropharmacology of ethanol, dopamine pathways, animal behavior studies
• Methodologies: Operant self-administration paradigms, in vivo neurophysiology, pharmacological interventions in rodent models

While no formal awards or student advisement roles are listed, her work contributes significantly to preclinical drug development for alcoholism treatment.