Kohman Lab

The Kohman laboratory investigates the functional involvement of the immune system in regulating cognitive function and measures of neural plasticity. Immune cells and signaling molecules can both impair and promote cognitive function. For instance, active inflammation in the body and/or brain (i.e., neuroinflammation) disrupts specific learning and memory processes and reduces hippocampal neurogenesis. In contrast, during times of health, these traditional immune agents may be integral to normal cognitive function and the growth and survival of new hippocampal neurons. The Kohman laboratory’s research primarily focuses on identifying: 1) the conditions that determine whether the immune system promotes or disrupts neural function, 2) factors (e.g., sex, age, physical fitness) that promote susceptibility or resiliency, 3) the neural mechanisms through which the immune system regulates learning and memory. The laboratory utilizes preclinical models and various behavioral and molecular techniques such as immunohistochemistry, real-time RT-PCR, ELISA, cell isolation, and confocal microscopy to address these and other questions.