The Sackler InstituteThe Sackler InstituteForFor

Developmental PsychobiologyDevelopmental Psychobiology

Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityNY State Psychiatric InstituteNY State Psychiatric Institute

Established April, 2001Established April, 2001

Sackler Institute at Columbia Sackler Institute at Columbia D I V I S I O N SD I V I S I O N S

ClinicalClinical Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience Basic ScienceBasic Science

Research on Developmental ProcessesResearch on Developmental Processes

Department of PsychiatryDepartment of Psychiatry

School of Public HealthSchool of Public Health Pediatrics/NeonatologyPediatrics/NeonatologyObstetrics and GynecologyObstetrics and Gynecology

Biochemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsMolecular Biophysics

Psychoanalytic CenterPsychoanalytic Center Parent/Infant ProgramParent/Infant Program

Behavioral MedicineBehavioral Medicine Neurobiology andNeurobiology andBehaviorBehavior

Sackler Institute at Columbia Sackler Institute at Columbia D I V I S I O N SD I V I S I O N S

ClinicalClinical Myrna WeissmanMyrna Weissman

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral NeuroscienceMyron A Hofer, DirectorMyron A Hofer, DirectorJennifer Knowles, AdministratorJennifer Knowles, Administrator

Michael Myers Michael Myers Jonathan PolanJonathan Polan Jay GingrichJay Gingrich

Basic ScienceBasic Science Thomas JessellThomas Jessell

Developmental NeuroimagingDevelopmental Neuroimaging Bradley PetersonBradley Peterson

William Fifer, Assistant DirectorWilliam Fifer, Assistant Director

Sackler Award and NIMH Research FellowshipsSackler Award and NIMH Research Fellowships

• What are the risk factors for mood and anxiety What are the risk factors for mood and anxiety disorders across generations?disorders across generations?

• 3 Generations of Depression:3 Generations of Depression:– Anxiety in childhoodAnxiety in childhood

– Depression in adolescence and adulthoodDepression in adolescence and adulthood

• Current study on serotonin transporter geneCurrent study on serotonin transporter gene– Genetic variants, EEG responses and MRIGenetic variants, EEG responses and MRI

Clinical DivisionClinical Division Myrna Weissman, PhDMyrna Weissman, PhD

Genetic EpidemiologyGenetic Epidemiology

• Formation of attachmentFormation of attachment

• Mechanisms of separation effectsMechanisms of separation effects

• Regulation of developmentRegulation of development

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience Myron Hofer, MD, DirectorMyron Hofer, MD, Director

Developmental Role of Parent/Infant InteractionsDevelopmental Role of Parent/Infant Interactions

Early Development of Social Early Development of Social Cognition in Transgenic Models Cognition in Transgenic Models of Autismof Autism

• Infant feeding experiences: role in shaping Infant feeding experiences: role in shaping autonomic nervous system developmentautonomic nervous system development

• Intrauterine and neonatal nutrition: Intrauterine and neonatal nutrition: programming of metabolic and neurobehavioral programming of metabolic and neurobehavioral disordersdisorders

• Epigenetic mechanisms and underlying effectsEpigenetic mechanisms and underlying effects

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience Michael Myers, PhDMichael Myers, PhD

Long-term Effects of Early ExperienceLong-term Effects of Early Experience

• Reversibly increased levels in striatumReversibly increased levels in striatum– Limited to prenatal periodLimited to prenatal period

• Specific defect in working memorySpecific defect in working memory

• Models cognitive deficit in schizophreniaModels cognitive deficit in schizophrenia

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience Jonathan Polan, MDJonathan Polan, MD

Maternal-Infant NeurobiologyMaternal-Infant Neurobiology

Transgenic model: Dopamine type 2 receptor geneTransgenic model: Dopamine type 2 receptor gene

• How do neurons first establish their identity?How do neurons first establish their identity?

• What cues guide them to their targets?What cues guide them to their targets?

• How do neuronal circuits forms and function?How do neuronal circuits forms and function?

Basic ScienceBasic Science Thomas Jessell, PhDThomas Jessell, PhD

Developmental Neurobiology: Genes, Molecules and CellsDevelopmental Neurobiology: Genes, Molecules and Cells

Sackler Institute at Columbia Sackler Institute at Columbia D I V I S I O N SD I V I S I O N S

ClinicalClinical Myrna WeissmanMyrna Weissman

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral NeuroscienceMyron A Hofer, DirectorMyron A Hofer, DirectorJennifer Knowles, AdministratorJennifer Knowles, Administrator

Michael MyersMichael Myers Jonathan PolanJonathan Polan Jay GingrichJay Gingrich

Basic ScienceBasic Science Thomas JessellThomas Jessell

Developmental NeuroimagingDevelopmental Neuroimaging Bradley PetersonBradley Peterson

William Fifer, Assistant DirectorWilliam Fifer, Assistant Director

Sackler Award and NIMH Research FellowshipsSackler Award and NIMH Research Fellowships

• Exposure to nicotine, alcohol and SSRI’sExposure to nicotine, alcohol and SSRI’s– Link to SIDSLink to SIDS

• Effects of Maternal Anxiety and Depression Effects of Maternal Anxiety and Depression on fetal behavior and autonomic system on fetal behavior and autonomic system

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience William Fifer, PhD, Assistant DirectorWilliam Fifer, PhD, Assistant Director

Fetal/Infant Neurobehavioral DevelopmentFetal/Infant Neurobehavioral Development

• Formation of attachmentFormation of attachment

• Mechanisms of separation effectsMechanisms of separation effects

• Regulation of developmentRegulation of development

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience Myron Hofer, MD, DirectorMyron Hofer, MD, Director

Developmental Role of Parent/Infant InteractionsDevelopmental Role of Parent/Infant Interactions

Early Development of Social Early Development of Social Cognition in Transgenic Models Cognition in Transgenic Models of Autismof Autism

• Formation of attachmentFormation of attachment

• Mechanisms of separation effectsMechanisms of separation effects

• Regulation of developmentRegulation of development

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience Myron Hofer, MD, DirectorMyron Hofer, MD, Director

Developmental Role of Parent/Infant InteractionsDevelopmental Role of Parent/Infant Interactions

The Evolution of DevelopmentThe Evolution of Development

• Virtual reality paradigmsVirtual reality paradigms

• Diffusion tensor imagingDiffusion tensor imaging

Developmental NeuroimagingDevelopmental Neuroimaging Bradley Peterson, MDBradley Peterson, MD

Long-term effects of premature birthLong-term effects of premature birth3 generations at risk for depression3 generations at risk for depression

• Neuroligin genes and cognitive deficits of Neuroligin genes and cognitive deficits of schizophreniaschizophrenia

• Serotonin 2A receptors necessary for responses Serotonin 2A receptors necessary for responses to hallucinogenic drugsto hallucinogenic drugs

• Serotonin transporter gene knockout reveals Serotonin transporter gene knockout reveals unique early developmental role for serotonin in unique early developmental role for serotonin in depression depression

Behavioral NeuroscienceBehavioral Neuroscience Jay Gingrich MD, PhDJay Gingrich MD, PhD

Transgenic Models of Schizophrenia and DepressionTransgenic Models of Schizophrenia and Depression

Myrna WeissmanMyrna Weissman William FiferWilliam Fifer

Bradley PetersonBradley Peterson Catherine MonkCatherine Monk

3 generation study3 generation study– Genetic VarientsGenetic Varients– EEG startedEEG started– MRIMRI

Novel Role for Serotonin in Novel Role for Serotonin in Early DevelopmentEarly Development

• Transporter gene under-expression increases Transporter gene under-expression increases vulnerabilityvulnerability– Clinical: short form of gene linked to adult depressionClinical: short form of gene linked to adult depression– Knockout mice show adult depressive phenotypeKnockout mice show adult depressive phenotype

• SSRI: paradoxical effectsSSRI: paradoxical effects– Pregnant women: neonatal syndromePregnant women: neonatal syndrome– Children and Adolescents: ineffective and/or activatingChildren and Adolescents: ineffective and/or activating– Pre-weaning mice show adult “depressive” phenotypePre-weaning mice show adult “depressive” phenotype