Dr. Gourley's lab focuses on prefrontal cortical function, particularly in the context of reward-related decision-making. We aim to understand neurobiological mechanisms and how decision-making behaviors can be impacted in depression and addiction.
Several investigations also concern adolescent development. For instance, our team aims to understand why adolescent-emergent depression is associated with insensitivity to traditional antidepressants, and why exposure to drugs of abuse during adolescence is associated with drug abuse and dependence that persist across the lifespan. We hypothesize that these adverse outcomes may relate to the manner in which pathological stimuli, such as stressors, social isolation and drugs of abuse, impact the adolescent prefrontal cortex. Across mammalian species, this brain region organizes complex decision-making, reward valuation and inhibitory control, and it also undergoes considerable remodeling and development during adolescence.
Our team uses behavioral, pharmacological, biochemical, genetic and cellular approaches to develop and optimize novel therapeutic interventions for vulnerable adolescent populations. Conversely, our research team also aims to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms of resilience to stressors and drugs of abuse at any age. New lines of research concern how social interactions influence reward-related decision-making.