Richard Joaquin Ortiz

Research Interests

Our laboratory investigates how genetic, social and environmental factors influence social behavior using the socially monogamous rodent, the prairie vole. We implement 3D-printed brain-on-chip technology to keep a slice of brain tissue alive and use calcium imaging and big data analytics to quantify neural imaging. We can see how various chemicals, including drugs of addiction, affect brain activity in regions responsible for social behavior.

Frequently Taught Classes

PSYC 300: Introduction to Brain and Behavior

Representative Publications

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Ortiz RJ, Gutierrez GG, Norman VN, Prosser RA, Baker CA (2024): Design, development, and validation of a 3D printed microfluidic perfusion system for studying circadian physiology via ex vivo slice culture (In Prep)
Ortiz RJ, Brown J, Cushing BS, Lavretsky P (2024): ddRAD-seq reveals population structure and long-term demographic histories of North American Microtus vole species (In Prep)
Ortiz RJ, P, Kulkarni, Ferris CF, Cushing BS (2024): Difference in resting state functional connectivity in and between the olfactory and social core of male rats and mice in comparison to socially monogamous male prairie voles (In Prep)
Colarusso B, Ortiz R, Yeboah J, Chang A, Gupta M, Kulkarni P, Ferris CF (2024): APOE4 Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sex Differences, Genetic Risk and Diet (In Review). Neuroscience Insights
Ortiz RJ, Stetzik L, Lavretsky P, Cushing BS (2024): Comparative genomic analysis of two phenotypically distinct prairie vole populations and F1 hybrids using ddRADseq (In Prep)
Ghaw A, Chunduri A, Chang A, Ortiz, RJ, Kozlowska M, Kulkarni P, Ferris CF (2024): Dose-dependent changes in cortical/thalamic and cerebellar activity following exposure to LSD: a BOLD functional MRI study in awake rats. (In Review). Brain Communications
Kenkel WM, Ortiz RJ, Yee JR, Kulkarni PP, Carter CS, Cushing BS, Ferris CF (2023): . Psychoneuroendocrinology.
Ash H, Chang A, Ortiz RJ, Kulkarni PP, Rauch B, Colman R, Ferris CF, Ziegler TE (2022): . Behavioural Brain Research.
Coleman JR, Madularu D, Ortiz RJ, Athanassiou M, Knudsen A, Alkislar I, et al. (2022): . Addict Biol.
Ortiz RJ, Walger AE, Yee JR, Wagler AE, Kulkarni PP, Cai X, Ferris CF, Cushing BS (2021): . Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience.
Ortiz R, Yee JR, Kulkarni PP, Solomon NG, Keane B, Cai X, et al. (2020): . Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.