Pal Lab

The overarching goal of our research program is to understand the neuroscientific basis of consciousness. To that end, we use rodent models to study the mechanistic underpinnings of natural and altered states of consciousness such as sleep-wake states, anesthesia, and dissociative psychedelic states. The ongoing projects in the laboratory include studies aimed at investigating if sleep and anesthesia have common underpinnings, role of prefrontal cortex in the control of arousal states, and the neural correlates and mechanisms of dissociative and psychedelic states. Our methodological approach includes high-density EEG recordings, in vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC/MS for neurotransmitter quantification, use of DREADDs/Optogenetics for specific neuronal activation/inhibition, and immunohistochemical or fluorescence labeling of neurons. {Originally certified gold: August 10, 2019}