Shelley M. Warlow
Assistant Professor
Appointments
Assistant Professor
Biography
My research is focused on understanding how the brain generates motivated behavior. We investigate the brain regions, circuits, and signaling molecules involved in promoting reward vs. fear. We apply a variety of techniques and causal manipulations in mice to understand why some rewards become preferred over others in both healthy conditions, or in conditions that mimic psychiatric illness such as addiction or depression.
Growing evidence suggests that many neurons within the brain's reward circuitry are incredibly diverse and some have the capacity to release multiple neurotransmitters when activated. We also aim to understand how this co-release contributes to the generation of reward vs. aversion.
Ongoing projects in the lab include 1) understanding how neurotransmitter-specific inputs to amygdala modulate incentive motivation, 2) clarifying how dopamine release in some limbic areas can promote both reward and fear, and 3) exploring how changes in motivational state (such as drug sensitization) alter the balance of neurotransmitter co-release within brain reward circuitry.
Education
B.A. University of Washington
B.S. University of Washington
Ph.D. University of Michigan
Publications
Warlow SM, Singhal SM, Hollon NG, Faget L, Dowlat DS, Zell V, Hunker AC, Zweifel LS, Hnasko TS. (2023) Mesoaccumbal glutamate neurons drive reward via glutamate release but aversion via dopamine co-release. Neuron. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.002.
Warlow SM & Berridge KC (2021) Incentive motivation: 'wanting' roles of central amygdala circuitry. Behavioral Brain Research, 411:113376. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113376
Zell V, Steinkellner T, Hollon NG, Warlow SM, Souter E, Faget L, Hunker AC, Jin X, Zweifel LS, Hnasko TS. (2020) VTA Glutamate Neuron Activity Drives Positive Reinforcement Absent Dopamine Co-release. Neuron. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.06.011
Warlow SM, Naffziger EE, Berridge KC (2020) The central amygdala recruits mesocorticolimbic circuitry for pursuit of reward or pain. Nature Communications, 11(1):2716. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16407-1 Featured in "Editor's Highlights: From brain to behaviour"; Faculty of 1000 recommended
Olney, JJ, Warlow, SM, Naffziger, EE, & Berridge, KC (2018) Current Perspectives on Reward Incentive Salience and Applications to Clinical Disorders. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 22:59-69. doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.01.007
Warlow, SM, Robinson, MJF & Berridge, KC (2017) Optogenetic amygdala stimulation intensifies and narrows motivation for cocaine. Journal of Neuroscience, 37(35):8330-8348 doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.3141-16.2017
Robinson, MJF, Warlow, SM, & Berridge, KC (2014) Optogenetic excitation of central amygdala amplifies and narrows incentive motivation to pursue one reward above another. Journal of Neuroscience, 34(50):16567-80doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.2013-14.2014 Featured in "This week in the journal"
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