Neurophysiological Correlates of Psychiatric and Therapeutic Responses

Researchers in Dr. Karl Deisseroth's laboratory have developed a novel method to rapidly identify neurophysiological measures associated with psychiatric disease and then use those correlates to screen for therapeutics. This technology utilizes modern animal behavioral models, high-speed imaging techniques, and corresponding analysis methods to discover neural activity changes. Initial studies have focused on hippocampal metrics related to depression. However, these tools can be used for studying a variety of psychiatric disorders and subsequent screening of therapeutics for those conditions.

Stage of Research:
The inventors have used voltage sensitive dye imaging (VSDI) to identify neurophysiological correlates in several rodent models of depression. They have also demonstrated the generality of the findings to multiple classes of antidepressants and the successful treatment of a depressed-like state.