糖心原创

Contact

• workRoom B31 Psychology
  University Park
  Nottingham
  NG7 2RD
  UK
• Rachel.GrasmederAllen@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

Based at the 糖心原创, I am a fourth year PhD student funded by the BBSRC studying in the School of Psychology.

Teaching Summary

I am currently working as a demonstrator and coursework marker for first year Psychology lab classes (PSGY1001).

Research Summary

Hippocampal GABAergic inhibition and neuro-cognitive function: the role of GABA-A 伪5 subunit-containing receptors.

My research investigates the relationship between hippocampal GABAergic activity and cognitive & behavioural functions, in rats. Reduced GABAergic inhibition in the hippocampus has been implicated in cognitive disorders, including age-related cognitive decline and schizophrenia (Bast et al., 2017, BrJPharmacol). I am building on previous work in the lab group to investigate the impact of hippocampal disinhibition on cognitive functions which depend on prefrontal and subcortical sites, including reversal learning. I am also investigating the specific significance of hippocampal GABA-A alpha 5 receptors for neural, behavioural and cognitive functions of the hippocampus. Alpha 5 GABA-A receptors are preferentially expressed in the hippocampus (McKernan & Whiting, 1996, TrendsNeurosci).

Typical methods of my studies involve stereotaxic cannula implantation in rats; intracerebral micro infusions of selected drugs; behavioural studies including reversal learning and locomotor activity; and transcardial perfusion fixation followed by histological sectioning.

Supervisor: Dr Tobias Bast, 糖心原创

Recent Publications

• JOSEFINA WEINEROVA, RONI TIBON, TOBIAS BAST and RACHEL GRASMEDER ALLEN, 2025. Brain and Neuroscience Advances. 9, 23982128251363046
• LOAYZA, JOANNA, TAYLOR, CHARLOTTE, RENSTROM, JACCO, ALLEN, RACHEL GRASMEDER, JACKSON, STEPHEN and BAST, TOBIAS, 2025. Neuro-behavioral impact of Tourette-related striatal disinhibition in rats: bioRxiv
• TAYLOR, CHARLOTTE J. L., RENSTR脰M, JACCO G., LOAYZA, JOANNA, GWILT, MIRIAM, WILLIAMS, STUART A., GRASMEDER ALLEN, RACHEL, MORAN, PAULA M., GIGG, JOHN, NEILL, JOANNA, HARTE, MICHAEL and BAST, TOBIAS, 2025. Too little and too much: balanced hippocampal, but not medial prefrontal, neural activity is required for intact novel object recognition in rats: bioRxiv
• BAST, TOBIAS, GRASMEDER ALLEN, RACHEL, MAGGI, SILVIA and RENSTROM, JACCO, 2023. Genes, Brain and Behavior. 22(6), e12870

• View all publications

Past Research

Previously, I completed a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience at the University of Manchester, achieving a first class degree in 2020. My final year research project focused on major depressive disorder, looking at functional and structural differences in brain structure using MRI, and I was supervised by Prof Rebecca Elliott. I then completed a MSc in Translational Neuropathology at the University of Sheffield, achieving a distinction in 2021. My research focused on investigating metabolic pathways in Parkinson's Disease, and I was supervised by Dr Scott Allen.

• JOSEFINA WEINEROVA, RONI TIBON, TOBIAS BAST and RACHEL GRASMEDER ALLEN, 2025. Brain and Neuroscience Advances. 9, 23982128251363046
• LOAYZA, JOANNA, TAYLOR, CHARLOTTE, RENSTROM, JACCO, ALLEN, RACHEL GRASMEDER, JACKSON, STEPHEN and BAST, TOBIAS, 2025. Neuro-behavioral impact of Tourette-related striatal disinhibition in rats: bioRxiv
• TAYLOR, CHARLOTTE J. L., RENSTR脰M, JACCO G., LOAYZA, JOANNA, GWILT, MIRIAM, WILLIAMS, STUART A., GRASMEDER ALLEN, RACHEL, MORAN, PAULA M., GIGG, JOHN, NEILL, JOANNA, HARTE, MICHAEL and BAST, TOBIAS, 2025. Too little and too much: balanced hippocampal, but not medial prefrontal, neural activity is required for intact novel object recognition in rats: bioRxiv
• BAST, TOBIAS, GRASMEDER ALLEN, RACHEL, MAGGI, SILVIA and RENSTROM, JACCO, 2023. Genes, Brain and Behavior. 22(6), e12870