Areas of Research<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n![\"RitaJanelComputerBack2cropp\"](\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/109\/2014\/07\/RitaJanelComputerBack2cropp-396x367.jpg\")
<\/a>Undergraduate Researcher, Janelle Lugo, and Dr. Fuchs examine Western blots on the lab’s LICOR digital imaging system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nEnvironmental stimuli orchestrate adaptive behaviors, cognition, and physiological functions in healthy individuals. Similarly, drug-associated environmental stimuli trigger intense drug-related memories and precipitate drug craving, impulsive decision making, and even immunosuppression in substance abusers. NIH-funded research in our laboratory has focused on demonstrating empirically the existence of some of these drug context-induced phenomena through the development and implementation of novel animal models. We now aim to elucidate the neural underpinnings of these phenomena using a multi-disciplinary approach that utilizes sophisticated animals models, in vivo<\/em> optogenetic and chemogenetic circuitry manipulations, pharmacological manipulations, viral tract tracing, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. We are working on establishing\u00a0in vivo<\/em> calcium imaging and\u00a0collaborating with\u00a0other laboratories to conduct electrophysiological experiments. Our long-term goal is\u00a0to make basic science discoveries that\u00a0inform the development of treatment strategies that promote recovery from drug dependence and preempt the long-term health consequences of drug addiction.<\/p>\nWould you like to become a member of our research team?
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nProspective graduate students and postdoctoral trainees: please contact Rita Fuchs<\/a><\/strong> for information about research opportunities! <\/span><\/p>\nInterested undergraduate researchers: All of our undergraduate research assistant slots are filled currently. Please check back with Dr. Fuchs at the end of the summer to learn about new research opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" <\/p>\n
Areas of Research<\/h2>\n
Environmental stimuli orchestrate adaptive behaviors, cognition, and physiological functions in healthy individuals. Similarly, drug-associated environmental stimuli trigger intense drug-related memories and precipitate drug craving, impulsive decision making, and even immunosuppression in substance abusers. NIH-funded research in our laboratory has focused on demonstrating empirically the existence of some of these drug context-induced phenomena through the development and implementation of novel animal models. We now aim to elucidate the neural underpinnings of these phenomena using a multi-disciplinary approach that utilizes sophisticated animals models, in vivo<\/em> optogenetic and chemogenetic circuitry manipulations, pharmacological manipulations, viral tract tracing, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. We are … » More …<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-builder.php","meta":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":408,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21\/revisions\/408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=21"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=21"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"RitaJanelComputerBack2cropp\"](\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/109\/2014\/07\/RitaJanelComputerBack2cropp.jpg\")
<\/a>Environmental stimuli orchestrate adaptive behaviors, cognition, and physiological functions in healthy individuals. Similarly, drug-associated environmental stimuli trigger intense drug-related memories and precipitate drug craving, impulsive decision making, and even immunosuppression in substance abusers. NIH-funded research in our laboratory has focused on demonstrating empirically the existence of some of these drug context-induced phenomena through the development and implementation of novel animal models. We now aim to elucidate the neural underpinnings of these phenomena using a multi-disciplinary approach that utilizes sophisticated animals models, in vivo<\/em> optogenetic and chemogenetic circuitry manipulations, pharmacological manipulations, viral tract tracing, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. We are working on establishing\u00a0in vivo<\/em> calcium imaging and\u00a0collaborating with\u00a0other laboratories to conduct electrophysiological experiments. Our long-term goal is\u00a0to make basic science discoveries that\u00a0inform the development of treatment strategies that promote recovery from drug dependence and preempt the long-term health consequences of drug addiction.<\/p>\n Would you like to become a member of our research team? Prospective graduate students and postdoctoral trainees: please contact Rita Fuchs<\/a><\/strong> for information about research opportunities! <\/span><\/p>\n Interested undergraduate researchers: All of our undergraduate research assistant slots are filled currently. Please check back with Dr. Fuchs at the end of the summer to learn about new research opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" <\/p>\n Environmental stimuli orchestrate adaptive behaviors, cognition, and physiological functions in healthy individuals. Similarly, drug-associated environmental stimuli trigger intense drug-related memories and precipitate drug craving, impulsive decision making, and even immunosuppression in substance abusers. NIH-funded research in our laboratory has focused on demonstrating empirically the existence of some of these drug context-induced phenomena through the development and implementation of novel animal models. We now aim to elucidate the neural underpinnings of these phenomena using a multi-disciplinary approach that utilizes sophisticated animals models, in vivo<\/em> optogenetic and chemogenetic circuitry manipulations, pharmacological manipulations, viral tract tracing, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. We are … » More …<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-builder.php","meta":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":408,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21\/revisions\/408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=21"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/fuchslokensgard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=21"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nAreas of Research<\/h2>\n