Research consists of three main areas of the Neurosciences: 1) investigation of mechanisms of short and long term memory in rodent and nonhuman primate models, with specific emphasis on the role of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex; 2) investigation of the neurobiological basis of substance abuse in rodent and nonhuman primate models and 3) cellular and molecular experimentation on the actions of CNS active drugs using in vitro electrophysiological recording and calcium imaging methods. Two of the three main laboratories integrate behavioral and simultaneous neurophysiological methods for recording from large populations of neurons and to extract decision codes and other neural representative features of information processing in hippocampus and related brain structures. These techniques have been applied to the influence of sleep deprivation on cognition and to designing and implementing biotechnical devices to support failed memory systems. The above investigative models include examination of how memory and cognition are affected by cannabinoids and other abused substances. The third laboratory conducts in vitro recordings from hippocampus and other structures to assess the neuroprotective actions of agents in relation to influence on intracellular calcium levels in hippocampal neurons and examines the role of calcium in the retrograde release of endocannabinoids that modify synaptic transmission in hippocampus and other brain regions using confocal electron microscopy.