Shane Perrine

Shane Perrine is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Wayne State University School of Medicine. His research focuses on the neuropsychopharmacology of drug addiction and co-occurring psychiatric conditions, particularly depression and anxiety.

Dr. Perrine's laboratory investigates how drugs, especially psychostimulants like cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (ecstasy), affect neurochemistry and behavior. Using animal models, his work aims to elucidate the mechanisms of brain plasticity in response to acute and repeated drug exposure, stressors, and cues that lead to anxiety, depression, and relapse to drug seeking. His current research has two main directions: (1) determining the neurochemical underpinnings disrupted by psychostimulants that lead to anxiety, depression, and maladaptive reward behaviors; and (2) understanding the neurobiological basis underlying the comorbidity of PTSD and drug abuse.

Dr. Perrine's recent publications reveal strong trends in neurobiological mechanisms of addiction with emphasis on sex differences, neuronal ensembles, and the intersection between PTSD and substance use disorders. His work frequently employs rodent models combined with behavioral testing, advanced neuroimaging, and molecular techniques. A significant portion examines how traumatic brain injury and stress exposure interact with substance use, including investigations into opioid exposure during pregnancy and its developmental consequences.

Dr. Perrine teaches several courses including Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology (PYC7010), Neurobiology of Addiction (NEU4200), and Fundamentals of Neuroimaging (PYC7140). He collaborates with numerous researchers within Wayne State University and at other institutions including University of Arkansas, Emory University, University of Michigan, and Temple University.

His laboratory employs methodologies including rodent models for reward, anxiety, and depression-related behaviors, western blotting, ELISA, HPLC, and proton-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. His primary disease/disorder focus is drug abuse and dependence, anxiety, and depression, with rats serving as the primary model species.