Research in the McElligott lab focuses on the circuits and plasticity that underlie the development and manifestation of psychiatric illness, specifically disorders on the affective spectrum including: alcohol and substance use disorders, and anxiety disorders. The lab has expertise in studying neurotransmission from the level of signaling in individual cells through behavior utilizing a variety of techniques including: whole-cell electrophysiology, in vivo and ex vivo fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, viral circuit manipulations (optogenetics, chemogenetics, caspase ablation), and behavioral assays.

There are several ongoing projects in the lab. One area we are focused on explores the role of neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) that express the neuropeptide neurotensin and the role these neurons play in alcohol related phenotypes. As part of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies (BCAS) P60 Center Grant we are exploring how alcohol modulates inputs to the nucleus accumbens with specific emphasis on basolateral amygdala to accumbens circuitry. Additionally we are interested in exploring how norepinephrine modulates neurotransmission within the brain and how the norepinephrine system itself is modulated in models of alcohol and opioid use disorder and post-traumatic stress. Finally newer work from our lab explores how neuromodulator systems (especially catecholaminergic) are dysregulated by a mouse model of tauopathy. Beyond these studies, we are actively engaged in several other collaborative projects with other labs at UNC, as well as around the world.