Grayson Sipe | Eberly College of Science

Neuromodulation during arousal shifts fundamentally shapes brain states and is critical for functional sensory processing and adaptive decision-making. Therefore, studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive shifts in arousal is crucial for understanding maladaptive arousal in neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety and addiction. Despite the breadth of work studying neuromodulation from a neuronal perspective, relatively little is known about neuromodulation of non-neuronal cells, i.e. glia, and their subsequent influence over neuronal circuits. Our research goals approach studying arousal shifts from both neuronal and glial perspectives, and integrate their physiology and plasticity with sensory processing and behavior. In addition to studying this physiology under healthy conditions, we are also interested in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying arousal disorders and how these mechanisms contribute to addiction, particularly the development of alcohol abuse.