Zurina Hassan, Ph.D.
Current Appointment(s)
Visiting Scientist, National Neuroscience InstituteUniversity Lecturer, Universiti Sains MalaysiaPrincipal Research Scientist, Universiti Sains MalaysiaWorld Health Organization (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence (Dependence Liability Evaluation)
Contact Information
Addiction Behaviour and Neuroplasticity Research LaboratoryCentre for Drug ResearchUniversiti Sains Malaysia11800 PenangMalaysiaTel: (+604) 6532726 (Office) Fax: (+604) 6568669Email: zurina_hassan@usm.my
The Team
Research Officer
Students
Overview of Laboratory
The Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory was founded in October 2010 in the Centre for Drug Research (CDR), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. We were given the mandate to establish a new Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory in this centre. We are the pioneer in this institution and embarked on a new niche area of research focusing on Behaviour Research in Addiction. We emphasize on behaviour neuroscience and strive to be a reference center for those who are planning to participate in behaviour neuroscience in their research. Our concern is to understand the neural mechanisms of motivation, learning and memory especially in drug addiction and neurodegenerative disease. We have developed the Electrophysiology Laboratory focusing on brain activity (EEG) and in vivo synaptic plasticity. A technique known as in vivo microdialysis is developed in CDR to measure the dynamic changes on extracellular levels of neurotransmitters in the specific brain sites. Using this method, information on the correlations between the behavioural effects and neurochemical events could be possibly addressed. Examination on the involvement of systemic opioid, GABA, noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic system on these addictive behaviours enable comprehensive understanding of how brain mechanisms regulate these complex behaviours.
Selected Publications
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