University of Basel (Switzerland) and University of Freiburg (Germany)
Lead Investigators: Joachim Seelig, Ph.D. and Martin Bohus, M.D. (Freiburg)
Co-Investigators: Andreas Lüthi, M.D., Isabelle Mansuy, Ph.D. (Zurich), Hans Rudolf Olpe, M.D., Erich Seifritz, M.D.

Project: Animal models and the psychobiology and treatment of BPD.

Preliminary Findings: In coordinated animal and human studies, key brain mechanisms underlying emotion regulation are being investigated by the Basel/Freiburg group. This group has found that the amygdala and dopamine systems are adversely impacted by stress early in development of animals. Additionally, other studies of people with and without BPD suggest that stress hormones may alter the functioning of areas of the brain responsible for inhibiting and regulating emotions. Also, the neural circuitry of emotion, and how it appears altered in BPD, is being studied using modern neuroimaging techniques. This research may help researchers and clinicians understand emotional dysregulation in BPD.