Memory impairment is a defining characteristic of many neuropsychiatric disorders, however, an understanding of the complex neural mechanisms regulating hippocampal memory formation remains elusive. To investigate this neural mechanism, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has awarded several million dollars to Dr. Karyn Frick, who is a Distinguished Professor at the Psychology Department and Member of the MIDD.

The sex steroid 17β-estradiol (E2) is a powerful modulator of hippocampal plasticity and memory in both males and females, however the neural mechanisms through which this occurs are poorly understood. Therefore, the long-term goal of Prof. Frick’s research is to pinpoint the neural mechanisms through which E2 regulates hippocampal memory consolidation in males and females. Currently, the MIDD supports her lab with the quantification of E2 in specific brain regions.