Behavioral Genetics Laboratory

The Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, led by Prof. Carmen Sandi, focuses on investigating the impact of stress and personality on brain function and behavior, particularly in motivation and the social domain. They study the neurobiological mechanisms underlying motivated behavior, stress modulation, and early life stress effects on psychopathologies. Using a variety of experimental approaches, including behavioral, neuroimaging, and genetic methods, the lab conducts research in rodents and humans. Recent publications have explored topics such as glucocorticoid responsiveness to stress, mitochondrial function in social dominance, and adiposity linked to sociability deficits.