Tracie Paine

  • Claire Emma McGreggor '11 Professor of Neuroscience

Areas of Study

Education

  • BS, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada 1999
  • MA, Queen's University, Kingston ON, Canada 2001
  • PhD, Queen's University, Kingston ON, Canada 2004

Biography

Tracie Paine is a behavioral neuroscientist whose research uses a combination of behavioral and molecular biological techniques to investigate the neurobiology of cognitive functions such as attention and impulse control.

Attention and impulse control are dysregulated in a number of psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance abuse. Thus, understanding the neurobiology of these cognitive functions will ultimately lead to the development of novel, more effective treatment strategies for these conditions.

Students are actively engaged in all aspects of research from experimental design to data collection and the preparation of manuscripts for publication. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to present their research at regional and national conferences.

Neuropharmacology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Attention, Impulse control, Substance Abuse

Paine TA, Pierotti C, Swanson ES, Martin Del Campo Z, Kulkarni S, Zhang J (2023). Sex, but not juvenile stress, affects reversal learning and DRL performance following cocaine administration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 231: 173634. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173634.

Paine TA, Brainard S, Keppler E, Poyle R, Sai-Hardebeck E, Schwob V, Tannous-Taylor C (2021). Juvenile stress increases cocaine-induced impulsivity in female rats. Behav Brain Res 414: 113488. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113488.

Paine TA, Chang S, Poyle R (2020). Contribution of GABAA receptor subunits to attention and social behavior. Behav Brain Res 378: 112261. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112261.

Riordan AJ, Schaler AW, Fried J, Paine TA, Thornton JE (2018). Estradiol and luteinizing hormone regulate recognition memory following subchronic phencyclidine: Evidence for hippocampal GABA action. Psychoneuroendocrinology 91: 86-94. doi: 10.1016/

Paine TA, Swedlow N^, Swetschinski L^ (2017). Decreasing GABA function within the medial prefrontal cortex or basolateral amygdala decreases sociability. Behavioral Brain Research, 317, 542-552. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.10.012.

Paine TA, Cooke EK^, Lowes DC^ (2015). Effects of chronic inhibition of GABA synthesis on attention and impulse control. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 135, 97-104. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.05.019.

Paine TA, O’Hara A^, Lowes DC^, Plaut B^ (2015).  Effects of disrupting medial prefrontal cortex GABA transmission on decision-making in a rodent gambling task. Psychopharmacology, 232, 1755-1765. doi: 10.1007/s00213-014-3816-7

Asinof SK^, Paine TA (2014).  The 5-choice serial reaction time task: A task of attention and impulse control for rodents.  The Journal of Visualized Experiments, 90. doi: 10.3791/51574 http://www.jove.com/video/51574/the-5-choice-serial-reaction-time-task-task-attention-impulse-control

Paine TA, Asinof SK^, Diehl GW^, Frackman A^, Leffler J^ (2013).   Medial prefrontal cortex lesions impair decision-making on a rodent gambling task: reversal by D1 receptor antagonist administration. Behavioural Brain Research, 243, 247-254. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.01.018

Diehl GW^, Wachtel JM^, Paine TA (2013).  Cue-induced conditioned activity does not incubate but is mediated by the basolateral amygdala. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 104, 69-79. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2013.01.003

Asinof SK^, Paine TA (2013).  Inhibition of GABA synthesis in the prefrontal cortex increases locomotor activity but does not affect attention in the 5-choice serial reaction time task.  Neuropharmacology, 65, 39-47. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.09.009

Fall 2024

Neuropharmacology — NSCI 325

Neuropharmacology Laboratory — NSCI 327

Spring 2025

Neuroscience of Mental Health — NSCI 025

The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience — NSCI 201

Neuroscience Laboratory — NSCI 211

News

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October 11, 2024

Lucy Lee ’25 is a neuroscience major with a minor in anthropology and a concentration in global health. This summer, through Internship+ , she interned at the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center. Here, she reflects on her experience and what she ultimately hopes to achieve.

This Week in Photos: Alzheimer's Research

August 5, 2021

A picture of a student transferring an opaque substance into a gel box in a neuroscience lab serves as inspiration for this week’s photo series.