Neuroscience |
You are about to give a public talk. Your heart is racing, your hands are sweaty, your guts are knotted, your hands shake and your voice quivers. How is this happening? What are the pathways in the brain controlling this response? The research conducted in the Brain, Blood Pressure and Stress laboratory aims to understand how the brain controls the autonomic and cardiovascular changes associated with stress, emotions and hyperarousal. The approach used is a system approach combining anatomical and physiological tools as well as behavioural observation. The work is done in conscious rats.
We use these main approaches:
Anatomical
Immunohistochemical detection of c-Fos to map activated parts of the brain during emotional stressors and exercise.
C-Fos can be combined with retrograde tracing between different parts of the brain to identified nodes in the network.
Gene editing
CRISPER-Cas directed neuropeptide knock down in mouse hypertensive model.
Functional
 of blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and activity in freely moving animals during tests via implanted probes.
Infrared thermographic recording of surface temperature (cutaneous blood flow) with thermographic camera behavioural observations.
Current projects
Nanoconjugates for treating neuropathic pain in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (collaboration with A/Prof Gila Moalem-Taylor).
Highlighted publications
- Olsen N; Furlong TM; Carrive P, 2021, 'Behavioural and cardiovascular effects of orexin-A infused into the central amygdala under basal and fear conditions in rats', Behavioural Brain Research,Ìý415:113515
- Carrive, P. (2017) Orexin, stress and central cardiovascular control. A link with hypertension? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 74: 376-392.
- Assareh N, Sarrami, M, Carrive P McNally GP (2016) The organisation of defensive behavior elicited by optogenetic excitation of rat lateral or ventrolateral periaqueductal gray.
Behavioral Neuroscience 130:406-414.
- Jackson KL., Dampney BW, Moretti JL, Stevenson ER, Davern PJ, Carrive P*, Head GA (2016) Contribution of Orexin to the Neurogenic Hypertension in BPH/2J Mice. Hypertension. 67:959-969. * joint senior author
- Kozlowska K, Walker P, McLean L and Carrive P (2015). Fear and the Defense Cascade: Clinical Implications and Management. Harvard Review of Psychiatry 23(4): 263-287.
Our experts
Professor Pascal Carrive - Group Leader
I am a neuroscientist and my main research interest is in the organization of the brain network that controls hyperarousal and the autonomic and behavioural responses to emotional stress (anxiety, fear). I am primarily interested in cardiovascular and thermogenic responses to stress.
Associated academics
- A/Prof Gila Moalem-Taylor
- Dr Teri Furlong
- Dr Natasha Kumar
- Dr Nathan Holmes (Psychology)
Students
- Yarden Gil (PhD, joint supervisor)
- Asina Bingul (PhD, co-supervisor)
- Robine Michalscheck (PhD, co-supervisor)
Research Theme