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Circuits, Systems, & Behavior Neuroscience

Discovering how complex signals encode behavior

The Halladay Lab is part of the fastest growing major at its University, Neuroscience at Santa Clara Univeristy, and is housed within the Department of Psychology.

News:

2.18.20

The Halladay Lab published a study in

Learning and Memory, identifying two

functionally distinct neural populations in

the extended amygdala that encode and

predict cued fear learning. Study authors

include Max Bjorni, Natalie Rovero,

Elissa Yang, Andrew Holmes, and Lindsay Halladay.

Research

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Research conducted in the Neural Circuits, Systems, & Behavior Lab, headed by Dr. Lindsay Halladay, is focused on understanding the physiological processes by which neural activity produces behavior, and more specifically, how dysfunctional circuitry leads to aberrant behavior. NCSB's objective is to better understand how reward and aversion circuits converge and interact. Using a combination of in vivo electrophysiology, behavior, and genetic tools, the Halladay Lab's ultimate goal is to clarify how factors such as stress and alcohol exposure alter neural signaling and influence circuitry in a way that promotes addictive-like behaviors.

1.28.20

Lindsay Halladay presented new Halladay Lab findings at the Winter Conference on Brain Research in Big Sky, MT. Two invited talks included data on the neural circuits governing defensive action selection, as well as fear responding in the face of uncertain outcomes - data shedding light on inappropriate defensive responding characteristic of anxiety disorders and PTSD.

1.16.20

In an interview with Elemental, Lindsay Halladay spoke about her recently published findings on the neural circuits regulating drinking behavior in "The Latest Findings on Why It’s So Hard to Quit Drinking."

12.18.19

Lindsay Halladay and colleagues at the

NIAAA published an article in Biological

Psychiatry, identifying a corticostriatal

circuit involved in regulating punished

ethanol seeking. SCU issued a press

release for the study here.

10.19.19

The Halladay lab traveled to Chicago, IL to present their work at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Max Bjorni received a travel award from the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. Other presenting RAs included Hannah Henderson, Natalie Rovero, and Alex Quan.

7.26.19

Lindsay Halladay traveled to SRI International to present the lab's research on neural and behavioral regulation of ethanol-seeking behavior.

7.11.19

Max Bjorni was selected to receive a competitive travel award by Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) to present his research at this year's upcoming Society for Neuroscience meeting in October. See you in Chicago!

6.12.19

Huge congratulations to DeNardo Scholar and lab RA Malia Belnap, on her graduation from SCU!

5.17.19

The Halladay lab attended and presented four posters at the Bay Area Brain Symposium, co-organized and hosted by Lindsay Halladay, the Vice President of the Bay Area Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (SFN). RAs Max Bjorni, Natalie Rovero, and Alex Quan brought home their second 'Best Poster' award in just two weeks, for their work on adulthood behavioral and neural consequences of early life adversities on reward seeking.

5.4.19

Halladay Lab RAs presented their research at the Western Psychology Conference for Undergraduate Research, where Max Bjorni, Natalie Rovero, and Alex Quan won the award for best poster. Their work examines how developmental

adversities such as

early life stress and

adolescent alcohol

exposure impact adult-

hood reward seeking.

5.2.19

DeNardo Science Scholars Malia Belnap and Max Bjorni were selected to present their research on neural correlates of social behavior and ethanol reward preference at the Sigma Xi poster session at SCU.

5.2.19

Max Bjorni was honored with

the prestigious DeNardo

Science Scholar award, a two

year grant to conduct research on neural circuits underlying stress-induced drinking behavior. Hannah Henderson and Noel Del Toro were each awarded a De Novo Science Scholar summer research grant. Natalie Rovero and Alex Quan received summer research grants from SCU's innovative REAL program. Huge accomplishments all around!

4.17.19

Lindsay Halladay presented the lab's undergraduate-led research at the BNA Festival for Neuroscience meeting. Research examines neural correlates of pro-social behaviors.

1.28.19

Lindsay Halladay traveled to Aspen, CO to present two invited talks at the Winter Conference on Brain Research. Findings of the NCSB lab identified a neural substrate for alcohol-induced anxiety alleviation. Additional research identfiied a corticostriatal pathway mediating ethanol seeking in the face of adverse consequences.