Karin Vadovičová

Neuroscientist with expertise in brain connectivity analysis, decision-making mechanisms, and neuroimaging (fMRI, DTI). Specialized in habenula and prefrontal cortex functions in learning, decision-making, sleep, and well-being. First to identify and characterize cortical projections to lateral habenula and septo-habenular pathways in humans.

I worked last 3 years on cortical, serotonin, Ach, nicotine and dopamine processing, medial and lateral habenula, and memory replay unpaid.

I found how 5-HT2a receptor agents i.e. psilocybin, nitrous oxide and ketamine help in stress, trauma, depression and autism, to grow stronger vACC/a25 region, to promote safety and well-being signal, socializing, cognitive flexibility and resilience to stress, protein synthesis and spinogenesis, feeling at ease, and BDNF activation. I claimed specific PFC subregions roles, connectivity, and interactions with rest of brain in goal-directed control of our thoughts, feelings, decisions, memory, and behavior. I proposed testable mechanisms how agents that activate 5-HT2a receptors (signaling cascade that leads to depolarisation) activate vACC/a25, IPN and claustrum.

I proposed that IPN then activates MRN serotonin release in human brain, that also activates VIP interneurons in prefrontal layer 5, which are known to inhibit parvalbumine and somatostatine interneurons, thus also attention and theta-gabma coupling. If ound how MHb-IPN-MRN- claustrum, hyperpolarizes cortex, induces loss of awareness, rest, SWS and anesthesia.

I found how stress mutually inhibits SWS. I found how work antidepressants, promoting resilience to stress and cognitive flexibility. I claimed MRN serotonin activation by 5HT2a, ketamine, psychedelics, ibogaine, and nitrous oxide stimulation of 5HT2a signaling cascade in IPN. I found that DRN activation (via 5-HT2aR in vACC/a25, infralimbic c.) induce resilience to stress, promotes cognitive flexibility, lowers withdrawal and craving, anxiety, depression and worries.

I found how PFC interacts with LHb, and how MHb multisynapticaly via MHb-IPN-MRN circuit activation induces cortical slow oscillations/synchronization, loss of awareness, SWS, rest, repair, spinogenesis and protein synthesis, and lowers oxidative stress and respiration.

I found new analgesic region: Tac1/MOR neurons in MHb. I found how anesthesia and anesthetics work, via activating the MHb-IPN pathway (K channels, adenosine receptors + MOR) and IPN (5-HT2aR) pathway. Normal anesthetics activate MHb (causing inhibition of K channels, that leads to depolarisation) which activates IPN, but psychedelics, ibogaine, nitrous oxide and ketamine activate directly IPN

PhD in Neuroscience – Universita degli studi Brescia (2011-11 – 2016-10)

M.Sc. in Psychology – Trinity College Dublin, School of Psychology (2007-10 – 2010-06)