Dr. Carrie E Mahoney

Dr. Mahoney has examined the role of orexin in promoting arousal and attention in the presence of rewarding stimuli. With mouse models of narcolepsy, she identified neurons of the central nucleus of the amygdala that underlie the triggering of cataplexy (sudden episodes of muscle paralysis) by strong positive emotions and social interaction. Dr. Mahoney is interested in understanding how intense experiences change subsequent sleep behavior, which in healthy individuals may facilitate retention and processing of certain memories. However, this process may be compromised in situations where a life experience, hormonal state, or neurodevelopmental disorder causes a chronic sleep alteration. Her research focuses on the relationship between neuronal circuits that regulate emotional processing and social engagement with sleep and arousal circuits.