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Marco Leyton is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University. His research focuses on the neurobiology of drug self-administration and addiction, specifically addiction-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Leyton conducts studies that can benefit people in two main ways: through a clinical research unit where drugs are administered under safe conditions, and through functional neuroimaging facilities at the Montreal Neurological Institute, utilizing techniques such as PET and MRI. His research particularly addresses questions surrounding the acute effects of abused substances on the human brain, with a focus on the mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathways. Leyton investigates the behavioral significance of drug-induced dopamine release in humans, as well as how repeated drug use may lead to long-lasting effects on the brain, including issues such as conditioning, sensitization, and cross-sensitization. Additionally, he studies individual differences in drug-induced behavioral and neurobiological responses, seeking to understand the factors that account for these differences and how they influence susceptibility to addiction and related co-morbid conditions.
Department: Department of Medicine. Program: Experimental Medicine.