Anxiety

Ekaterina Likhtik, Ph.D., of Columbia University will investigate the neural circuitry that evaluates and responds to safety and threats, focusing on communication between the brain’s prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, an important structure for processing threats. In experiments with mice, she will investigate whether boosting communication between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala before fear learning or during recall of fear memories can improve animals’ ability to discriminate between threatening and non-threatening stimuli. By better understanding these neural circuits, Dr. Likhtik hopes to identify new strategies for treating anxiety disorders.