Dr Paul G Anastasiades

Prefrontal Cortex Circuits: The prefrontal cortex is involved in high-level cognition and  functions as an important junction between cortical and limbic brain regions. My research aims to understand the properties of the long-range and local connections that mediate prefrontal circuits, focusing on how connectivity depends on presynaptic and postsynaptic neuronal identity. I am also interested in understanding how the components of cortical circuits and their connectivity vary across individual regions, particularly how prefrontal circuits differ to those in sensory cortices.

Circuit Development: Central to deciphering the complex connectivity that underlies cortical function are the mechanisms that give rise to cortical connectivity during development. This is particularly important because a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, are thought to occur due to failure of these developmental processes. To better understand prefrontal development, I aim to determine how the properties of prefrontal circuits change as we grow, with particular focus on changes during the period of adolescence.

Neuromodulation: Neuromodulators play an integral role in prefrontal cortex function. I study how individual components of prefrontal circuits are impacted by neuromodulation and the overall impact on circuit dynamics. Dopamine is thought to be involved in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, and I aim to understand how aberrant prefrontal dopamine causes deficits in neural signaling within the PFC and associated brain regions.