Loretta Flanagan-Cato | University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychology

Associate Professor

Department:

Psychology

Education:

BA, Psychology, Rutgers University; Ph.D., Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh

Address:

Solomon Labs, 3720 Walnut St, Room D1

Phone:

215-898-4085

Email:

flanagan@psych.upenn.edu

Lab Page

Research Themes:

Animal Learning and Behavior

Behavioral Neuroscience

Specific Research Areas:

Behavioral neuroscience; especially hormonal effects on neural circuitry in the hypothalamus

Research Synopsis:

The research in my laboratory examines the effects of hormones on neural circuitry in the rat brain, particularly the hypothalamus. Estrogen induces neural plasticity in various brain regions, including the hypothalamus, which allows the modulation of reproductive and ingestive behaviors in adult female rodents according to the phase of the estrus cycle. The research in my laboratory capitalizes on multidisciplinary approaches to study these neurohormonal interactions. Techniques range from behavioral analysis, receptor localization, tracing studies, pharmacological analyses, and molecular studies of the regulation of transcription. This research is funded by the National Institute of Health.

Dr. Flanagan-Cato is accepting new students for admission in fall 2012.

Representative Courses:

BIBB 109 Intro to Brain and Behavior
PSYC 139 Neuroendocrinology

Appointments:

Psychology Graduate Group; Neuroscience Graduate Group

Advisees:

Laura Felgendreger [Neuroscience Graduate Student]
Sarah Ferri-Kolwicz [Psychology Graduate Student]

Representative Publications:

Griffin, G.D. and L.M. Flanagan-Cato. Ovarian hormone action in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus: remodelling to regulate reproduction. J. Neuroendocrinology, 23: 465-471, 2011.

Flanagan-Cato, L.M. Sex differences in the neural circuits mediating female sexual receptivity (Invited Review). Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 32: 124-136, 2011.

Griffin, G.D., S.L. Ferri-Kolwicz, B.S. Reyes, E.J. Van Bockstaele and L.M. Flanagan-Cato. Ovarian hormone-induced reorganization of oxytocin-labeled dendrites and synapses lateral to the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus in female rats. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 518; 4531-4545, 2010.

Griffin, G.D. and L.M. Flanagan-Cato. Sex differences in the dendritic arbors of neurons in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus. Physiology and Behavior 97: 151-156, 2009.

D.R. LaBelle, J.M. Cox, A.A. Dunn-Meynell, B.E. Levin, and L.M. Flanagan-Cato. Genetic and dietary effects on dendrites in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus. Physiology and Behavior, 98: 511-516, 2009.

Flanagan-Cato, L.M., S.J. Fluharty, E.B. Weinreb, and D.R. LaBelle. Food restriction alters neuronal morphology in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus of male rats. Endocrinology, 149: 93-99, 2008.

Griffin, G.D. and L.M. Flanagan-Cato. Estradiol and progesterone differentially regulate the dendritic arbor of neurons in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus of the female rat (Rattus norvegicus). J. Comp. Neurol. 510: 631-640, 2008.

Pfaff, D.W., L.-M. Kow, M. Loose, L.M. Flanagan-Cato. Reverse engineering the lordosis behavior circuit. Hormones and Behavior, 55: 347–354, 2008.