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Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies
 
Short general presentation

The ultimate aim of this laboratory is to understand how abnormal forms of emotional behavior develop. The stress response in general, and glucocorticoids in particular are well known for their role in the transition from normal to abnormal behavior. However, the information available on the role of glucocorticoids concerns mainly the long term effects of chronic overproduction. The acute effects of glucocorticoids (including the recently demonstrated non-genomic effects) are considerably less well known and studied. Even less is known about the behavioral effects of glucocorticoid deficiency, which appears to be closely related to aggressiveness shown in personality disordered people. Although glucocorticoid overproduction may trigger aggressive behavior via increasing irritability, the impulsivity-driven, "cold-blooded" violence (which constitutes a large criminal problem) appears to be specifically related to glucocorticoid deficiency. The interaction between stress exposure and mood disorders is widely studied, and relatively well known. Less information is available on the pharmacological consequences of stress exposure, despite the fact that stress is well known for its important effects on brain function in general and receptor expression in particular. These considerations prompted us to study four main topics over the past four years: (i) the mechanisms of the stress response; (ii) the non-genomic effects of glucocorticoids on behavior; (iii) the behavioral effects of glucocorticoid deficiency, and (iv) the consequences of stress exposure, with special reference to pharmacological responsiveness. Efforts were made to understand basic mechanisms, for which a wide array of different techniques was adopted. We plan to maintain, moreover, to broaden our approach over the coming years.

Work division. G.B. Makara, D. Zelena, and Zs. Mergl (assistant: N. Beko): classical stress studies; J. Haller, É. Mikics, B. Varga, K. Soproni and J. Baranyi (assitant: B. Barsvari): behavioral studies; J. Halász and I. Barna (assistants A.Arszovszki): immunocytochemical an in situ hybridization techniques; J Halász, and É. Mikics: telemetric recordings. Besides the main focus, group members are trained in at least one technique outside their main expertise.

International cooperation was based on the mobility of I. Barna, J. Halász, É. Mikics, and D. Zelena; short (mainly cooperation building) travels were made by J. Haller and G.B. Makara as well. The main cooperating parties were MR Kruk from the University of Leiden (The Netherlands), and RJ Rodgers (University of Leeds, UK).

Cooperation within the institute. The group is devoted to cooperation within the institute either via mutual technology transfer (share of expertise) or joint research. Such cooperation was built up with the groups lead by T.F. Freund, K. Kovács, Zs. Liposits, E. Madarász, and G. Szabó (in alphabetical order)

 
Mission statement
The group studies the neurobiological background of the stress response and emotional behavior. The approach is biomedical: laboratory models of human disorders are in focus. The main goal is to understand how the stress response develops, and how does it contribute to the control of abnormal behavior. The group is devoted to the development of new methods and models, which are bound to mimic the clinical problems as closely as possible. Research activity is performed at several levels: (i) brain mechanisms of the stress response, (ii) resulting somatic and behavioral changes, (iii) stress-induced changes in the brain mechanisms controlling behavior, and (iv) pharmacological studies for counteracting the changes. The approach is interdisciplinary: methods range from immunocytochemistry to the analysis of complex social behaviors.
 

Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies

Name Organization Status Room Extension Direct no. Fax


Haller, József Dr.   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    208  126  2109406  2109951 
 
Daviu, Nuria   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    204  122     
 
Kántor, Sándor   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    204, 205  359, 169     
 
Barna, István Dr.   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    206  124  2109409   
 
Bodóné Sipos, Eszter   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Demeter, Kornél Dr., PhD   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    204  122     
 
Farkas, Lívia   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Makara, Gábor Dr.   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    210  128  2109950  2109951 
 
Mikics, Éva   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    301, 205  352, 123    210-9951 
 
Tóth, Máté   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    301, 205  352, 123     
 
Zelena, Dóra Dr.   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    202, 203  290, 121     
 
Aliczki, Manó   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Varga, János   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    214  128     
 
Barsvári, Beáta   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    204  122, 123     
 
Gyimesiné Pelczer, Katalin   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    204  122     
 
Till, Ibolya   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    206  124  2109409   
 
Vass, Ágnes   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies  Remote - GYES  204  122  2109407   
 
Venczkóné Bakos, Nikolett   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Balázsfi, Diána   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies           
 
Balogh, Zoltán   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies           
 
Bíró, László   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Bruzsik, Bíborka   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Csikota, Péter   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    204  122     
 
Csordás, Klaudia   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies           
 
Domokos, Ágnes   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    203, 204  121, 122     
 
Kovács, Krisztina   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies           
 
Miskolczi, Christina   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Nagy, Boglárka   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies           
 
Nguyen, Thuy Tien   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies           
 
Stankovic, Mona   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies           
 
Szabó, Andrea   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    204  122     
 
Szabó, Tamás   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Szente, László   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123     
 
Szőke, Annamária   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    301  352     
 
Urbán, Eszter   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    202  290     
 
Varga, Zoltán   Laboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies    205  123