Anna Ingebretson

PhD - 2017

E-MAIL: [email protected]

Thesis Title:

Characterizing cellular mechanisms of cocaine-evoked synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens

Current Position:

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Addiction Neuroscience, University of Minnesota

Undergraduate Institution and Major:

Concordia College, B.A. in Psychology, 2012

Graduate Advisor:

Mark Thomas, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience

Graduate Level Publications:

  • Madayag AC, Gomez D, Anderson EM, Ingebretson AE, Thomas MJ, Hearing MC. Cell-type and region-specific nucleus accumbens AMPAR plasticity associated with morphine reward, reinstatement, and spontaneous withdrawal. Brain Struct Funct. 2019;224(7):2311-2324.
  • Benneyworth MA, Hearing MC, Asp AJ, Madayag A, Ingebretson AE, Schmidt CE, Silvis KA, Larson EB, Ebner SR, Thomas MJ. Synaptic depotentiation and mGluR5 activity in the nucleus accumbens drive cocaine-primed reinstatement of place preference. J Neurosci. 2019;39(24):4785-4796.
  • Ebner SR, Larson EB, Hearing MC, Ingebretson AE, Thomas MJ. Extinction and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking in self-administering mice is associated with Bidirectional AMPAR-mediated plasticity in the nucleus accumbens shell. Neuroscience. 2018 Jun 7;384:340-349.
  • Ingebretson A, Hearing MC, Huffington ED, Thomas MJ. Endogenous dopamine and endocannabinoid signaling mediate cocaine-induced reversal of AMPAR synaptic potentiation in the nucleus accumbens shell. Neuropharmacology. 2018;131:154-165.
  • Ingebretson A, Hearing MC, Huffington ED, Thomas MJ. Endogenous dopamine and endocannabinoid signaling mediate cocaine-indeced reversal of AMPAR synaptic potentiation in the nucleus accumbens shell. Neuropharmacology. 2017;131:154-165.
  • Hearing M, Jedynak J, Ebner SR, Ingebretson A, Asp AJ, Fischer RA, Schmidt C, Larson EB, Thomas MJ. Reversal of morphine-induced cell-type specific synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens shell blocks reinstatement. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2016;113(3):757-62.
  • Jedynak J, Hearing M, Ingebretson A, Ebner SR, Kelly M, Fischer RA, Kourrich S, Thomas MJ. Cocaine and amphetamine induce overlapping but distinct patterns of AMPAR plasticity in nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2016;41(2):464-476.
  • Olson ML, Ingebretson AE, Harmelink KJ. Hippocampal cortactin levels are reduced following spatial working memory formation, an effect blocked by chronic calpain inhibition. Brain Sciences 2015;5(2):241-257.

Graduate Level Abstracts

  • Ingebretson A, Hearing MC, Huffington ED, Esguerra M, Thomas MJ. Role of endocannabinoid and dopamine signaling in cocaine-induced synaptic AMPAR depotentiation in the nucleus accumbens shell. Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego, CA, 2016.
  • Ingebretson A, Hearing MC, Esguerra M, Huffington E, Thomas MJ. Repeated cocaine administration engages dopamine and endocannabinoid signaling to induce AMPA receptor-dependent synaptic depotentiation in the nucleus accumbens. Gordon Seminar and Conference on Synaptic Transmission, Waterville Valley, NH, 2016.
  • Ingebretson AE, Hearing MC, Esguerra M, Huffington ED, Thomas MJ. Depotentiation of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens induced by experience with cocaine. University of Minnesota. Biomedical Research Recognition Day, Minneapolis, MN, 2016.
  • Ingebretson AE, Hearing MC, Ebner SR, Thomas MJ. Cellular mechanisms and timing of cocaine-induced synaptic depotentiation in the nucleus accumbens. Abstract for poster presentation, Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Chicago, IL., 2015.
  • Benneyworth MA, Hearing MC, Asp A, Ingebretson AE, Schmidt CE, Ebner SR, Esguerra M, Thomas MJ. Synaptic depotentiation via mGluR5 activation and AMPAR internalization in the nucleus accumbens shell drives cocaine-primed reinstatement. Abstract for poster presentation, Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Chicago, IL., 2015.
  • Esguerra M, Hearing MC, Schmidt CE, Ingebretson AE, Macheda T, Benneyworth MA, Thomas MJ. Bidirectional ethanol-induced synaptic plasticity and reinstatement of place preference following a history of combined ethanol and cocaine exposure. Abstract for poster presentation, Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Chicago, IL., 2015.
  • Hearing MC, Ingebretson AE, Ebner S, Schmidt C, Fischer R, Asp A, Thomas MJ. Reversal of morphine-induced cell-type specific synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens shell blocks reinstatement. Abstract for poster presentation, Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Chicago, IL, 2015.
  • Benneyworth MA, Hearing MC, Asp AJ, Ingebretson AE, Schmidt CE, Ebner SR, Thomas MJ. Synaptic depotentiation and mGluR5 activity in the nucleus accumbens drives cocaine-primed reinstatement. Abstract for poster presentation, Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Washington, D.C., 2014.
  • Hearing MC, Jedynak JP, Ingebretson AE, Ebner SR, Fischer RA, Thomas MJ. Repeated morphine administration drives bidirectional and cell-type specific AMPAR plasticity in the nucleus accumbens. Abstract for oral presentation, Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Washington, D.C., 2014.

Professional Presentations

  • Dopamine and endocannabinoid modulation of cocaine-evoked synaptic plasticity. Department of Neuroscience Colloquium series, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (April 2017)
  • Synaptic plasticity in the striatum: physiology and disease. Guest lecture, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN (Feb 2017)
  • Endogenous cannabinoid and dopamine signaling mediate cocaine-induced AMPA receptor synaptic depotentiation in the nucleus accumbens.” Department of Neuroscience Colloquium series, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (April 2016)
  • Behavioral and neurobiological factors underlying stress and depression. Guest lecture, NSCI 3102W Biological Basis of Behavior and Perception, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (April 2016)
  • Mechanisms of cocaine-induced synaptic depotentiation in the nucleus accumbens. Oral presentation at Department of Neuroscience Colloquium Series, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, April 2015.
  • Neurobiology of stress and depression. Guest lecture, NSCI 3102W Biological Basis of Behavior and Perception, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (April 2015)
  • Cocaine modulates AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity in the mouse nucleus accumbens. NIDA institutional training program retreat, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (May 2014)

Thesis Committee Members:

  • Paul Mermelstein, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience (Chair)
  • Jonathan Gewirtz, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
  • Virginia Seybold, Ph.D. Department of Neuroscience
  • Mark Thomas, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience and Psychology

Description of Graduate Research:

The nucleus accumbens is a key structure in the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic circuitry where drugs of abuse exert their rewarding and reinforcing effects. My research focuses on elucidating mechanisms of excitatory synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens induced by experience with cocaine and other drugs of abuse.

Research Categories:

  • Drug Abuse and Addiction
  • Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging & Optogenetics
  • Synaptic Plasticity and Learning

Graduate Level Awards and Honors:

  • Society for Neuroscience Trainee Professional Development Award, 2017
  • Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, 2016 - 2017
  • Frederick M. Stark Award, 2015

Rotations:

  • Mark Thomas, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience
  • Jonathan Gewirtz, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
  • Michael Georgieff, M.D., Department of Pediatrics

GPN Committees:

  • Student Board, 2017 – present
  • Council of Graduate Students Neuroscience Representative, 2015 – 2017

Other Committee Involvement:

  • Council of Graduate Students Neuroscience Representative, 2015 – 2017
  • Biomedical Research Recognition Day Committee, Neuroscience Representative, 2016 – 2017

Professional Outreach:

  • Science for All teacher, KIPP Northstar Academy and Marcy Holmes School, Minneapolis, MN, Sept 2016 – June 2017
  • Science Fusion! presenter, Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, January 2017
  • Brain Awareness instructor, Irondale Community School, Irondale, MN, November 2016
  • Your Amazing Brain presenter, Shoreview, White Bear, and Roseville public libraries, March, August 2016
  • Brain Awareness instructor, Irondale Community School, Irondale, MN, February 2016
  • Brain Awareness instructor, Field Community School, Minneapolis, MN, November 2015
  • Science Fusion! presenter, Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, January 2016
  • Brain Awareness instructor, Marcy Holmes Community School, Minneapolis, MN, March 2015
  • Science Fusion! presenter, Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, January 2015
  • Social Sciences: Neuroscience of Zombies presenter, Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, October 2014
  • Brains at the State Fair presenter, Minnesota State Fair, St Paul, MN September 2014
  • Brains at the State Fair presenter, Minnesota State Fair, St Paul, MN September 2013

Professional Memberships:

  • Graduate Women in Science, 2016 – present
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2014 – present
  • Society for Neuroscience, 2013 – present

Why Did You Choose UMN?

I chose the University of Minnesota because of the comprehensive first-year coursework, the collaborative nature of the school, and the opportunity to work with outstanding researchers in the field.

What Advice Would You Give a First Year Graduate Student?

Make time for yourself outside of classes and labs; constant stress and work will wear you down! Take time to explore your interests in the lab as well as through science careers exploration outside the lab.

Anna Ingebretson