Rosanna Jackson

• BSc (Hons) Pharmacology
• A model of synaptic transmission in the orbitofrontal cortex- modulation by monoamines

Behavioural studies have recently implicated dysfunction in the orbitofrontal cortex with psychiatric disorders. Monoaminergic transmission in this area is currently uncharacterised. Determining the neurotransmitter and specific receptors could help better understand such psychiatric disorders. Results showed that noradrenaline and serotonin were involved in modulating synaptic transmission, but not dopamine. However, further investigation into the specific receptors involved in the noradrenaline response could not isolate a specific receptor.  This work will be useful to others continuing to further characterise the monoaminergic transmission in the OFC. Better understanding of the conditions could hopefully better ways of treating the conditions.  

Funding Source: Wellcome Trust