Kasia Radwanska

Biography

Memory processes, including memory formation or extinction, are fundamental for brain function and they are affected in various psychiatric illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder or addiction. Currently, the molecular basis of memory processes is not sufficiently well understood to develop successful treatments for memory dysfunctions. Our team is studying molecular basis of memory processes. For our experiments we are using transgenic mice, which allows to combine molecular and morphological analyses with behavioral studies. In particular we are interested in modeling alcohol addiction and cognitive impairments in laboratory animals. Toward this end we apply both behavioral analysis of transgenic mice in the IntelliCage system as well as confocal microscopy to study molecular and structural alterations in different brain regions. The long-term aim to our research is to develop insights for treatments for memory dysfunctions in psychiatric illnesses. Current research activities include: Do multi-innervated spines store memory? In this project we analyze the molecular mechanisms which regulate formation of multi-innervated spines, a rare type of synapse that is characterized by several presynaptic terminals contacting the same postsynaptic spine. The aim of this project is to understand the role of these synapses in memory formation and storage. Alpha CaMKII autophosphorylation as a mechanism to regulate alcohol consumption In this project we use CaMKII-T286A mutant mice to investigate the role of CaMKII autophosphorylation in the regulation of alcohol-induced actin remodeling, structural plasticity of dendritic spines, alcohol-related behaviors as well as alcohol consumption and preference.

Research Interest

Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology