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Professor Pankaj Sah

Institute Director

Queensland Brain Institute
pankaj.sah@uq.edu.au
+61 7 334 66311

Overview

Professor Pankaj Sah is Director of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at The University of Queensland (UQ). He is renowned for his work in understanding the neural circuitry of the amygdala, an area of the brain that plays a central role in learning and memory formation. Dysfunction of the amygdala leads to a host of anxiety-related disorders. His laboratory uses a combination of molecular tools, electrophysiology, anatomical reconstruction, calcium imaging and behavioural studies to examine the electrophysiological signatures of different brain regions and their impact on disease. Recently, his laboratory has been working with patients undergoing electrode implantation for deep brain stimulation, which is used to treat a variety of disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome and essential tremor. Professor Sah trained in medicine at The University of New South Wales and, after completing his internship, gained a PhD from the Australian National University. Following postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Francisco, and UQ, he established his own laboratory at the University of Newcastle in 1994. He then joined the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University as a group leader in 1997. He was recruited to QBI as a founding member in 2003, and has been Director since July 2015. Professor Sah has published over 110 papers in international peer-reviewed journals. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Nature Partner Journal npj Science of Learning, the first journal to bring together the findings of neuroscientists, psychologists, and education researchers to understand how the brain learns.

Research Impacts

Prof Sah's major interest has been in understanding the neural circuits that underpin learning and memory formation working on two regions that have well defined roles in learning: the hippocampus and amygdala. He have made major contributions to both these areas and pioneered whole-cell recordings in acute brain slices and provided the first biophysical characterisation of excitatory glutamatergic synapses in the mammalian brain (e.g. Hestrin et. al. 1990, J. Physiol. 422:203; Sah, et al. 1989 Science, 246:815). These synapses are involved in all activity in the central nervous system and our results are cited in major neuroscience textbooks (e.g. Kandel and Schwartz, Principles of Neural Science). Although the hippocampus plays a role in many forms of learning, linking hippocampal activity to specific behaviours has proven difficult. He therefore decided to study the amygdala, a region of the brain well known to play a key role in a very specific form of learning: fear conditioning. His laboratory has been a leader in studying the amygdala and provided the first characterisation of the properties of neurons in this structure (e.g. Faber et al., 2001 J. Neurophysiol. 85:714; Faber & Sah 2002, J. Neurosci. 22:1618). revealing a number of novel and unexpected properties of central synapses and changed thinking about the functional roles of different synapses. For example, it was thought that learning only engaged synaptic plasticity at excitatory synapses on pyramidal neurons. His group showed that in the amygdala a unique form of plasticity also occurs in interneurons (Mahanty & Sah 1998, Nature 394:683) and have recently shown that this plasticity is restricted to a single class of interneuron (Polepalli et al. 2010, J Neurosci. 30:14619). Much of his group's work in this area formed the basis of an influential review (Sah et al. 2003, Physiological Reviews 83: 803). In 2005, my laboratory also discovered that small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, known to set the discharge properties of central neurons, are also present at excitatory synapses where their modulation plays a key role in setting the strength of synaptic connections and in synaptic plasticity (Faber et al. 2005, Nature Neurosci 8:635). Moreover, these channels are modulated by the hormone noradrenaline, explaining how memory formation may be affected by stressful stimuli (Faber et al. 2008, J Neurosci. 28:10803). Finally, interneurons in the adult brain were though to only be inhibitory. The Sah laboratory demonstrated that a particular type of interneuron in the amygdala is excitatory (Woodruff et al. 2006, J. Neurosci. 26:11881) overturning a long-standing dogma in the field. Interneurons in the amygdala have long been known to play an important role in amygdala-dependent learning. These effects were thought to result from the inhibitory actions of interneurons on the output neurons of the amygdala. His group's results are showing that these cells play a central and unexpected role in information processing and are redefining our understanding of the function that interneurons play in intrinsic circuits in the amygdala.

Qualifications

  • Masters Degree, University of New South Wales
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
  • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, University of New South Wales
  • Bachelor of Medical Science, University of New South Wales

Publications

  • Journal Article: Insights into the encoding of memories through the circuitry of fear

    Kenna, Matthew, Marek, Roger and Sah, Pankaj (2023). Insights into the encoding of memories through the circuitry of fear. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 80 102712, 102712. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102712

  • Journal Article: The PPN and motor control: Preclinical studies to deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease

    Lin, Caixia, Ridder, Margreet C. and Sah, Pankaj (2023). The PPN and motor control: Preclinical studies to deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 17. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1095441

  • Journal Article: Back Cover Image

    Bhat, Gurudutt, Kielar, Marcin, Rao, Haixia, Gholami, Mahnaz D., Mathers, Isabel, Larin, Astrid C. R., Flanagan, Thomas, Erdenebileg, Enkhtur, Bruno, Annalisa, Pannu, Amandeep Singh, Fairfull‐Smith, Kathryn E., Izake, Emad L., Sah, Pankaj, Lam, Yeng Ming, Pandey, Ajay K. and Sonar, Prashant (2022). Back Cover Image. InfoMat, 4 (12). doi: 10.1002/inf2.12395

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Grants

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Supervision

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Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Animal models in anxiety research

    Perumal, Madhusoothanan Bhagavathi and Sah, Pankaj (2021). Animal models in anxiety research. Anxiety in older people: Clinical and Research Perspectives. (pp. 205-225) edited by Gerard J. Byrne and Nancy A. Pachana. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781139087469.013

  • Neural circuits mediating fear learning and extinction

    Marek, Roger and Sah, Pankaj (2018). Neural circuits mediating fear learning and extinction. Systems neuroscience. (pp. 35-48) edited by Albert Cheung-Hi Yu and Lina Li. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-94593-4_2

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Anatomy and physiology of the central extended amygdala

    Sun, Y., Turpin, F., Xu, L. and Sah, P. (2015). Anatomy and physiology of the central extended amygdala. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13189

  • Cortical gating of sensory responses in the amygdala

    Windels, F., Yan, S., Stratton, P., Crane, J. and Sah, P. (2015). Cortical gating of sensory responses in the amygdala. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 august 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188

  • Intrinsic circuitry of the lateral central amygdala

    Hunt, S. and Sah, P. (2015). Intrinsic circuitry of the lateral central amygdala. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188

  • Reverberating cell assemblies in the amygdala

    Perumal, M. B., Sullivan, R. and Sah, P. (2015). Reverberating cell assemblies in the amygdala. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns, Australia, Aug 23-27, 2015. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13189

  • Auditory stimulation modulates amygdala network dynamics

    Windels, François, Stratton, Peter and Sah, Pankaj (2014). Auditory stimulation modulates amygdala network dynamics. The Twenty Third Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting: CNS*2014, Québec City, Canada, 26-31 July, 2014. London, United Kingdom: BioMed Central. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-15-s1-p52

  • Excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the basolateral amygdala

    Sah, Pankaj (2012). Excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the basolateral amygdala. 19th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience (ISDN), Mumbai India, 11-14 January 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2012.10.085

  • Kidney chloride regulation in the mouse CNS

    Sullivan, R. K. P., Spampanato, J. and Sah, P. (2011). Kidney chloride regulation in the mouse CNS. Australian Neuroscience Society (ANS) 31st Annual Conference, Aukland New Zealand, 30 January - 3 February 2011.

  • NMDA receptors in the amygdala: a heterogeneity of form and function

    Sah, P (2010). NMDA receptors in the amygdala: a heterogeneity of form and function. Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. TOKYO: SPRINGER TOKYO.

  • Recent advances in the role of the amygdala in memory storage, fear and anxiety

    Sah, P (2010). Recent advances in the role of the amygdala in memory storage, fear and anxiety. x, x, x. TOKYO: SPRINGER TOKYO.

  • Dendritic Branching and Excitatory Connectivity: Regulation by Seizure-Related Gene 6

    Gunnersen, JM, Kim, MH, Fuller, SJ, De, SM, Barwood, JM, Hammond, VE, Britto, JM, Mateos, JM, Sonderegger, P, Faber, ES, Sah, P and Tan, SS (2009). Dendritic Branching and Excitatory Connectivity: Regulation by Seizure-Related Gene 6. 22nd Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-of-Neurochemistry/Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry, Busan South Korea, Aug 23-29, 2009. MALDEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.

  • Fear conditioning and long-term potentiation in the amygdala: What really is the connection?

    Sah, P., Westbrook, R. F. and Lüthi, A. (2008). Fear conditioning and long-term potentiation in the amygdala: What really is the connection?. Blackwell Publishing Inc.. doi: 10.1196/annals.1417.020

  • Interneurons in the basolateral amygdala: A diversity of form and function

    Woodruff, A., Polepalli, J., Yanagawa, Y. and Sah, P. (2008). Interneurons in the basolateral amygdala: A diversity of form and function. Eighth Biennial Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China, 23-26 June 2008. Oxford, England, U. K.: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05367.x

  • Distribution and function of GABA(A) receptor subunits in the amygdala

    Esmaeili, Abolghasem, Lynch, Joe and Sah, Pankaj (2006). Distribution and function of GABA(A) receptor subunits in the amygdala. The 29th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society - (Neuroscience2006), Kyoto, Japan, 19-21 July 2006. Ireland, U.K.: Elsevier Ireland. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2006.04.004

  • A chemically and electrically connected network of interneurons regulates principal neuron activity in the basolateral amygdala

    Woodruff, A.R. and Sah, P. (2004). A chemically and electrically connected network of interneurons regulates principal neuron activity in the basolateral amygdala. Australian Neuroscience Society 24th Annual Meeting, Melbourne Convention Centre, 27-30 January. Melbourne: Australian Neuroscience Society.

  • Calcium and voltage dependent potassium currents contribute to spike frequency adaptations in lateral amygdala neurons

    Faber, E.S.L. and Sah, P. (2004). Calcium and voltage dependent potassium currents contribute to spike frequency adaptations in lateral amygdala neurons. Australian Neuroscience Society 24th Annual Meeting, Melbourne Convention Centre, 27-30 January. Melbourne: Australian Neuroscience Society.

  • Stimulation of Girk channel activity by P75 neurotrophin receptor (p 75NTR) promotes neuronal death

    Coulson, E., Sah, P., May, L. M., Morley, S. N. and Bartlett, P. F. (2004). Stimulation of Girk channel activity by P75 neurotrophin receptor (p 75NTR) promotes neuronal death. Society for Neuroscience 34th Annual Meeting, San Diego, 23-27 October, 2004. Washington DC: Society for Neuroscience.

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • The economic and social impact of Deep Brain Stimulation

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Predictive Biobehavioural Markers of Deep Brain Stimulation Efficacy

    Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • The role of GABA receptors in synaptic plasticity and disease

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Understanding Neural Basis of Resting-State Network Using Simultaneous Calcium Recording and fMRI

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Neural Circuitry that underlies fear and its extinction

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Learning and memory formation, Memory formation and learning, Emotion - processing in brain, Nervous system, Brain physiology, Central nervous system receptors, Brain and memory, Brain and processing of emotion

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: C-8175-2009

ORCID: 0000-0001-5063-1589

Personal Profile: Link

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