Students in my research laboratories conduct studies on humans and rodents that focus on understanding the neurobehavioral consequences of stress. Currently, in my human laboratory, we are studying how certain genetic polymorphisms (e.g., deletion variant of the ADRA2B gene) might predict which individuals are more susceptible to the effects of stress on learning and memory. As stress-induced alterations of learning and memory are important contributors to many stress-related psychological disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), developing a better understanding of the involvement of certain genetic predispositions in such effects would be beneficial to understanding why certain people are at greater risk for these afflictions. In our rodent laboratory, we are attempting to model PTSD in rats by coupling exaggerated noradrenergic activity with a traumatic stressor (i.e., cat exposure). Extensive work has suggested that individuals who develop PTSD could exhibit excessive sympathetic nervous system activity at the time of stress, which facilitates the development of a debilitating and intrusive traumatic memory. In this lab, we are also examining the involvement of the cannabinoid system, particularly the CB1 receptor, in stress-memory interactions. Continued research on the endocannabinoid system has shown that a significant amount of stress effects on our physiology are mediated by CB1 receptor activity. Thus, developing a better understanding of this system involvement in stress effects on physiology and behavior could lead to novel treatments for stress-related psychological illnesses.
- Ph.D., Behavioral Neuroscience, University of South Florida
- M.A., Behavioral Neuroscience, University of South Florida
- B.A., Psychology, Wheeling Jesuit University
- Introduction to Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Learning & Behavior
- Motivation & Emotion
- Physiological Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
- Sensation & Perception
- The Stressed Brain
- Myths, Mischief & Pitfalls in Modern Science
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder
- Neurobiology of learning and memory
- Effects of stress on learning and memory
- Trauma-induced changes in brain and behavior
BOOK CHAPTERS:
Zoladz, P.R. & Diamond, D.M. (in press). Animal models provide a complementary approach to understanding the neurobiological basis and effective pharmacotherapy of PTSD. In J.D. Bremner (Ed.),
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS (* denotes supervised undergraduate student):
Burke, H.M.*, Robinson, C.M.*, Wentz, B.*, McKay, J.*, Dexter, K.W.*, Pisansky, J.M.*, Talbot, J.N., & Zoladz, P.R. (in press). Sex-specific impairment of spatial memory following a reminder of predator stress. Stress.
Zoladz, P.R. & Diamond, D.M. (2013). Current status on behavioral and biological markers of PTSD: A search for clarity in a conflicting literature. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 37, 860-895.
Zoladz, P.R., Fleshner, M., & Diamond, D.M. (2013). Differential effectiveness of tianeptine, clonidine and amitriptyline in blocking traumatic memory expression, anxiety and hypertension in an animal model of PTSD. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 44, 1-16.
Zoladz, P.R., Warnecke, A.J.*, Woelke, S.A.*, Burke, H.M.*, Frigo, R.M.*, Pisansky, J.M.*, Lyle, S.M.*, Talbot, J.N. (2013). Pre-learning stress that is temporally removed from acquisition exerts sex-specific effects on long-term memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 100, 77-87.
Zoladz, P.R., Fleshner, M., & Diamond, D.M. (2012). Psychosocial animal model of PTSD produces a long-lasting traumatic memory, an increase in general anxiety and PTSD-like glucocorticoid abnormalities. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37, 1531-1545.
Zoladz, P.R., Park, C.R., Halonen, J.D., Salim, S., Alzoubi, K.H., Srivareerat, M., Fleshner, M., Alkadhi, K.A., & Diamond, D.M. (2012). Differential expression of molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and amygdala in response to spatial learning and predator stress-induced amnesia. Hippocampus, 22, 577-589.
Zoladz, P.R. (2011). Post-traumatic stress disorder: A case for subtype identification. Ohio Psychologist, 58, 34-37.
Van Elzakker, M.B., Zoladz, P.R., Thompson, V.M., Park, C.R., Halonen, J.D., Spencer, R.L., & Diamond, D.M. (2011). Influence of pre-training predator stress on the expression of c-fos mRNA in the hippocampus, amygdala and striatum following long-term spatial memory retrieval. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 5, 1-13.
Roth, T.L., Zoladz, P.R., Sweatt, J.D., & Diamond, D.M. (2011). Epigenetic modification of hippocampal BDNF DNA in adult rats in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45, 919-926.
Zoladz , P.R., Clark, B.*, Warnecke, A.*, Smith, L.*, Tabar, J.*, & Talbot, J.N. (2011). Pre-learning stress differentially affects long-term memory for emotional words, depending on temporal proximity to the learning experience. Physiology & Behavior, 103, 467-476.
Zoladz, P.R. Muñoz, C., & Diamond, D.M. (2010). Beneficial effects of tianeptine on hippocampus-dependent long-term memory and stress-induced alterations of brain structure and function. Pharmaceuticals, 3, 3143-3166.
Zoladz, P.R. & Diamond, D.M. (2010). Use of an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder in the study of pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders. Culture Psy Neurosciences, 15, 6-7.
Zoladz, P.R., Woodson, J.C., Haynes, V.F., & Diamond, D.M. (2010). Activation of a remote (one-year old) emotional memory interferes with the retrieval of a newly formed hippocampus-dependent memory in rats. Stress: The International Journal on the Biology of Stress, 13, 36-52.
Zoladz, P.R. & Diamond, D.M. (2009). Linear and non-linear dose-response functions reveal a hormetic relationship between stress and learning. Dose-Response, 7, 132-148.
Conboy, L., Tanrikut, C., Zoladz, P.R., Campbell, A.M., Park, C.R., Gabriel, C., Mocaer, E., Sandi, C., & Diamond, D.M. (2009). The antidepressant agomelatine blocks the adverse effects of stress on memory and enables spatial learning to rapidly increase neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) expression in the hippocampus of rats. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 12, 329-341.
Zoladz, P.R., Park, C.R., Muñoz, C., Fleshner, M., & Diamond, D.M. (2008). Tianeptine: An antidepressant with memory-protective properties. Current Neuropharmacology, 6, 311-321.
Zoladz, P.R. & Diamond, D.M. (2008). Hormetic and non-hormetic dose-response functions in stress effects on memory and synaptic plasticity: Issues and mechanisms. American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 3, 108-121.
Zoladz, P.R., Conrad, C.D., Fleshner, M., & Diamond, D.M. (2008). Acute episodes of predator exposure in conjunction with chronic social instability as an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Stress: The International Journal on the Biology of Stress, 11, 259-281.
Park, C.R., Zoladz, P.R., Conrad, C.D., Fleshner, M., & Diamond, D.M. (2008). Acute predator stress impairs the consolidation and retrieval of hippocampus-dependent memory in male and female rats. Learning and Memory, 15, 271-280.
Campbell, A.M., Park, C.R., Zoladz, P.R., Muñoz, C., Fleshner, M., & Diamond, D.M. (2008). Pre-training administration of tianeptine, but not propranolol, protects hippocampus-dependent memory from being impaired by predator stress. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 18, 87-98.
Diamond, D.M., Campbell, A.M., Park, C.R., Halonen, J., & Zoladz, P.R. (2007). The temporal dynamics model of emotional memory processing: A synthesis on the neurobiological basis of stress-induced amnesia, flashbulb and traumatic memories, and the Yerkes-Dodson Law. Neural Plasticity, 2007, Article 60803.
Zoladz, P.R., Campbell, A.M., Park, C.R., Danysz, W., & Diamond. D.M. (2006). Enhancement of long-term spatial memory in adult rats by the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists, memantine and neramexane. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 85, 298-306.
Zoladz, P. & Raudenbush, B. (2005). Cognitive enhancement through stimulation of the chemical senses. North American Journal of Psychology, 7, 125-140.
Raudenbush, B., Koon, J., Smith, J., & Zoladz, P. (2003). Effects of odorant administration on objective and subjective measures of sleep quality, post-sleep mood and cognitive functioning, and alertness. North American Journal of Psychology, 5, 181-192.
CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS:
Human Research
- Rachael Aufdenkampe (Fall '11 - present)
- Callie Brown (Spring '13 - present)
- Chelsea Cadle (Spring '13 - present)
- Alison Dailey (Spring '13 - present)
- Andrea Kalchik (Fall '11 - present) - Head Research Assistant for Human Research
- David Peters (Spring '12 - present)
- Amanda Scharf (Spring '13 - present)
Rodent Research
- Amanda Colonna (Spring '13 - present)
- Kyle Dexter (Fall '11 - present)
- Alice Fox (Spring '13 - present)
- Megan Fry (Spring '13 - present)
- Eric Karr (Spring '13 - present)
- Anna Krivenko (Spring '12 - present) - Head Research Assistant for Rodent Research
