Shelley M. Warlow

|Assistant Professor
Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor

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. 

+ View more

Contact

Moore Hall, Room 201
HB 6207

Education

  • B.A. University of Washington
  • B.S. University of Washington
  • Ph.D. University of Michigan

Selected 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"