The major focus of my research is on defining the molecular mechanisms underlying behaviors related to psychiatric illness, with a special emphasis on the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in addiction, depression and learning. We have generated knockout and transgenic mice that have allowed the identification of individual receptors that are critical for behaviors related to nicotine addiction. Recently, we have also been investigating intracellular signaling downstream of nicotinic receptors and other pathways involving the neuropeptide galanin that may normally protect against the development of addiction.

Addy, N.A., Fornasiero, E. Tanya R Stevens, T.R., Taylor, J.R. and Picciotto, M.R. (2007) Role of calcineurin in nicotine-mediated locomotor sensitization, Journal of Neuroscience, in press.

Jacobsen, L.K., Picciotto, M.R., Heath, C.J., Frost, S.J., Tsou, K.A., Dwan, R.A., Jackowski, M.P., Constable, R.T. and Mencl, W.E. (2007) Diffusion tensor imaging in adolescent smokers and nonsmokers with and without prenatal exposure to maternal smoking, Journal of Neuroscience, in press.

Hawes, J.J., Brunzell, D.H., Narasimhaiah, R., Langel, U., Wynick, D., and Picciotto, M.R (2007) Galanin protects against opiate reward, Neuropsychopharmacology, in press.

Mineur, Y.S., Somenzi, O. and Picciotto, M.R. (2007) Partial agonists of high affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptor have antidepressant-like properties in mice, Neuropharmacology, 52(5): 1256-62.

Uboha, N.V., Flajolet, M., Nairn, A.C. and Picciotto, M.R. (2007) A CaM kinase I/MARK-2 signaling cascade mediates calcium-dependent neurite outgrowth, Journal of Neuroscience, 27(16) 4413-23.