Dr. Kenneth Carr

Biography

Kenneth D. Carr is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at New York University. His laboratory focuses on various aspects of molecular, cellular, and translational neuroscience, specifically examining brain reward mechanisms and the factors that modulate energy balance. His research delves into the neurobiological underpinnings of ingestive behavior, drug addiction, and the role of dopamine in reward systems. Carr’s work has revealed how food restriction influences the reward magnitude of abused drugs and the motivational effects of drug-associated cues. His studies identify significant neuroadaptations in the nucleus accumbens, such as decreased basal evoked dopamine release and alterations in intracellular signaling pathways linked to D1 receptors. Furthermore, he has investigated the necessity of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in enhancing behavioral responses in food-restricted rats when exposed to psychostimulants. Current research initiatives aim to test a model of cooperation between D1 receptors and calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in modulating reward behavior, underscoring the importance of specific forebrain glutamatergic inputs to medium spiny neurons. Carr collaborates with Dr. Margaret Rice's lab in Neurosurgery, contributing to insights on how striatal insulin signaling impacts dopamine release.

Research Interests