Home Department: undeclared
Mentor: Michelle Monje (Neurology & Neurological Sciences)

“Investigating the Role of Myelin Plasticity in Serotonergic Functions”

Serotonergic circuitry modulates behaviors and contributes to psychiatric disorders, yet the mechanisms of neuroplasticity facilitating these diverse roles are incompletely understood. Alexandra’s project explores whether oligodendrogenesis and myelination are necessary for serotonin-regulated behaviors. She will block oligodendrogenesis using the Cre-Lox system to conditionally knockout Myrf or TrkB in mouse oligodendrocyte precursor cells. She will then assess knockout and wild-type cohort performance on behavioral paradigms that robustly recruit serotonergic activity, and perform histological analysis to quantify oligodendroglia and myelination. This research will extend the connection between neuromodulatory systems and myelin plasticity, as well as contribute to our understanding of psychiatric pathologies.