Larry J. Young is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University. Throughout his career, Dr. Young has had a strong interest in the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying behavior. Dr. Young uses a wide range of experimental techniques, from behavioral and pharmacological to molecular and transgenic techniques, to address important behavioral neuroscience questions. Dr. Young is also committed to the comparative approach, learning from the natural differences in behavior of closely related species. Currently, Dr. Young's research focuses on the role of neuropeptides in the modulation of social behaviors and attachment. Vasopressin (AVP) facilitates affiliation and pair bond formation in monogamous species. Compared to non-monogamous species, monogamous species have high levels of AVP receptors in the ventral pallidum, a brain region associated with reinforcement and reward. Enhancing AVP receptor gene expression in the ventral pallidum using viral vector gene transfer facilitates pair bonding in the male prairie vole. This has led to the hypothesis that vasopressin stimulates social attachment by activating reward circuits via activation of AVP receptors in the ventral pallidum.
The specific aims of this proposal will investigate the role of the ventral pallidum in social attachment and characterize the activity, phenotype, and connectivity of vasopressin receptor containing cells in this region. Further studies will investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling AVP receptor expression in the ventral pallidum. Understanding the link between social interactions, reward circuitry and social attachment may provide useful insights into potential mechanisms underlying psychiatric diseases characterized by social deficits, such as autism. This project will provide opportunity to significantly develop the technical skills in Dr. Young's laboratory, including antibody development, retrograde tract tracing, and analysis of DNA-protein interactions. Emory University and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience provide an excellent environment for career development in the field of behavioral neuroscience.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02MH064692-05
Application #
7116956
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-2 (01))
Program Officer
Quinn, Kevin J
Project Start
2002-08-01
Project End
2007-07-31
Budget Start
2006-08-01
Budget End
2007-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$116,627
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Skuse, David H; Lori, Adriana; Cubells, Joseph F et al. (2014) Common polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is associated with human social recognition skills. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:1987-92
Charles, Rhonda; Sakurai, Takeshi; Takahashi, Nagahide et al. (2014) Introduction of the human AVPR1A gene substantially alters brain receptor expression patterns and enhances aspects of social behavior in transgenic mice. Dis Model Mech 7:1013-22
Hopkins, William D; Keebaugh, Alaine C; Reamer, Lisa A et al. (2014) Genetic influences on receptive joint attention in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Sci Rep 4:3774
Anacker, Allison M J; Ahern, Todd H; Hostetler, Caroline M et al. (2014) Drinking alcohol has sex-dependent effects on pair bond formation in prairie voles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:6052-7
NESCent Working Group on Integrative Models of Vertebrate Sociality: Evolution, Mechanisms, and Emergent Properties; Hofmann, Hans A; Beery, Annaliese K et al. (2014) An evolutionary framework for studying mechanisms of social behavior. Trends Ecol Evol 29:581-9
Modi, Meera E; Connor-Stroud, Fawn; Landgraf, Rainer et al. (2014) Aerosolized oxytocin increases cerebrospinal fluid oxytocin in rhesus macaques. Psychoneuroendocrinology 45:49-57
Donaldson, Zoe R; Young, Larry J (2013) The relative contribution of proximal 5' flanking sequence and microsatellite variation on brain vasopressin 1a receptor (Avpr1a) gene expression and behavior. PLoS Genet 9:e1003729
Tadesse, Tizeta; Cheng, Qi; Xu, Mei et al. (2013) Regulation of ephrin-A expression in compressed retinocollicular maps. Dev Neurobiol 73:274-96
Inoue, K; Burkett, J P; Young, L J (2013) Neuroanatomical distribution of ?-opioid receptor mRNA and binding in monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and non-monogamous meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). Neuroscience 244:122-33
Barrett, Catherine E; Keebaugh, Alaine C; Ahern, Todd H et al. (2013) Variation in vasopressin receptor (Avpr1a) expression creates diversity in behaviors related to monogamy in prairie voles. Horm Behav 63:518-26

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