My general research interest focuses on the behavioral and physiological functions of the hypocretins/orexins and their interactions with catecholamine neurotransmitters, particularly in the context of stress, arousal, and substance abuse.   My graduate work utilized electroencephalographic, microinfusion, and dual retrograde tracer techniques to investigate the arousal-enhancing actions of the hypocretin system.  This research indicated potent wake-promoting effects of the hypocretins that involve coordinated actions within multiple forebrain arousal-related structures. 

     My postdoctoral work involved a large collaborative effort to identify afferent inputs to the hypocretin neurons.  This research ultimately focused on the examination of monoaminergic innervation to the hypocretin neurons and demonstrated that hypocretin neurons receive afferent inputs from classic ascending neurotransmitter systems (e.g., noradrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic systems), particularly from regions involved in the regulation of homeostasis, arousal, attention, and reward.

     My current research with Dr. Sara Jones and Dr. David Roberts investigates the neural mechanism underlying cocaine-addiction.  Using voltammetry techniques, we have shown that cocaine and other dopamine uptake inhibitors produce rapid inhibition of the dopamine transporter.  Additionally, recent work suggests a hypocretin involvement in cocaine-self-administration behavior.