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Lab personnel

  • Sana Atithi

    Deciphering the role of AgRP neurons in hunger and safety conflict decision making

  • Dr Joon Kim

    Behavioural neuroscience

  • Tamatea Schweikert

    Chronic stress and reward behaviours

  • Kai Woolf

    The physiological effects of social connectedness on stress and anxiety

Research interests

Our laboratory studies the neural pathways that link internal states and behaviour. We seek to understand how defined cell types in the hypothalamus that encode internal states, in turn influence changes in behaviour. We are particularly interested in the neural circuits mediating stress, anxiety, and motivation.

Current research projects:

  • How stress causes anxiety
  • Conflicting motivations and behaviour selection
  • Negative states and aversive motivation

Current funding

2022–2025: Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund, Fast Start

Previous funding

2016–2018: Lottery Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship

Publications

Kim, J. S., Brown, C. H., & Anderson, G. M. (2016). Anti-opioid effects of RFRP-3 on magnocellular neuron activity in morphine-naïve and morphine-treated female rats. Endocrinology, 157(10), 4003-4011.  doi: 10.1210/en.2016-1374

Kim, J. S., Rizwan, M. Z., Clegg, D. J., & Anderson, G. M. (2016). Leptin signaling is not required for anorexigenic estradiol effects in female mice. Endocrinology, 157(5), 1991-2001.  doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1594

Kim, J. S. (2016). What's in a name? Roles of RFamide-related peptides beyond gonadotropin inhibition [Perspective]. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 28(9), 1-10.  doi: 10.1111/jne.12407

Kim, J. S., Brownjohn, P. W., Dyer, B. S., Beltramo, M., Walker, C. S., Hay, D. L., … Tyndall, J. D. A., & Anderson, G. M. (2015). Anxiogenic and stressor effects of the hypothalamic neuropeptide RFRP-3 are overcome by the NPFFR antagonist GJ14. Endocrinology, 156(11), 4152-4162.  doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1532

Singireddy, A. V., Inglis, M. A., Zuure, W. A., Kim, J. S., & Anderson, G. M. (2013). Neither signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) or STAT5 signaling pathways are required for leptin's effects on fertility in mice. Endocrinology, 154(7), 2434-2445.  doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1109

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