Luke Remage-Healey

Luke Remage-Healey is a Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is also affiliated with the Neuroscience & Behavior Graduate Program and the Center for Neuroendocrine Studies. He leads the Healey Lab, which investigates the rapid actions of neurosteroids in the brain, particularly in songbirds as a model for vocal learning and neural plasticity.

His research focuses on behavioral neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, and the modulation of neural circuits by locally synthesized estrogens. Using techniques such as in vivo microdialysis, electrophysiology, and neuropharmacology, his lab explores how neuroestrogens influence auditory processing, song learning, and social behaviors. His work bridges molecular mechanisms with system-level functions, emphasizing the dynamic role of steroids in brain function.

The recent publications from his lab highlight a strong trend in understanding how neuroestrogens regulate neural plasticity, sensory processing, and learning. Key themes include the rapid, localized actions of estrogens in the auditory forebrain, the role of neurosteroids in social and vocal behaviors, and the evolutionary conservation of neuromodulatory mechanisms. His studies often involve songbirds like zebra finches, leveraging their well-mapped neural circuits for vocal communication.

Luke Remage-Healey has received several scientific awards, including:

• Frank A. Beach Award, Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (2012)
• Early Investigator Award, Endocrine Society (2015)
• Outstanding Research Award, UMass College of Natural Sciences (2019)

He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to independent academic careers. His lab has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), reflecting the significance and impact of his research. The Healey Lab also engages in outreach and collaborative science, contributing to both fundamental neuroscience and broader scientific discourse.

His lab is involved in studying neural circuits for vocal communication, with a focus on how neuromodulators like estrogens and dopamine shape neural activity and behavior. The Healey Lab uses songbirds to model human vocal learning, aiming to uncover general principles of brain function and plasticity.