Angela Grippo

Last updated
Angela Grippo
NationalityAmerican
Alma materDrake University, University of Iowa
Awards APA Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology (2012)
Scientific career
Fields Neuroscience
Institutions Northern Illinois University

Angela J. Grippo is an American neuroscientist and health psychologist known for her research on stress, mood disorders, and cardiovascular disease. She is an associate professor of psychology at Northern Illinois University.

Contents

Grippo received the 2012 American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology [1] in the area of health psychology. Her award citation emphasized "her creative contributions in investigating the association between depression and cardiovascular disease in preclinical animal models... [that] advance understanding of the connections among depression, stress, and physical disease in humans." [2]

In addition to her award-winning research program, Grippo writes popular articles to help people better understand themselves and their circumstances. Her article "Why Reveal Your Disability or ‘Hidden Identity’ at Work?" encourages people to remain open about their disabilities, such as dyslexia. She embraces the ideas of individuality and self assurance. [3] She and her colleague Joseph Magiano write a column for Psychology Today titled The Wide Wide World of Psychology. Grippo's articles emphasize brain-body interactions, stress, and health issues. [4] [5]

Biography

Grippo grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois. [6] She received her Bachelors of Science degree from Drake University in 1998. She went to graduate school at University of Iowa where she obtained an MA in 2000, and a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2003, under the supervision of Alan Kim Johnson. [7] Her dissertation used a rodent model to explore neurobiological mechanisms associated with heart disease.

After a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at Loyola University Medical Center (2003-2004), Grippo took a second postdoctoral position at the University of Illinois at Chicago (2004-2008). During her second postdoc, Grippo studied neuroendocrine functioning in relation to social behavior in prairie vole. [8] [9] Grippo joined the faculty of the Department of Psychology at Northern Illinois University in 2008. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. [10] She has served as Chair of the Women in Physiology Committee of the American Physiological Society. [11]

Research

Grippo uses animal models to identify significant associations between stress, mood, and cardiovascular dysregulation. [12] [13] Several of her studies have used rats to explore how mood influences autonomic nervous system activity and immune response, and its potential impact on cardiovascular functioning. [14] In one of her studies with Sprague−Dawley rats, exposure to unpredictable stress led to anhedonia, operationally defined as a reduction in the animal's intake of sucrose without any associated change in its intake of water and used as an indicator of depression in the animal model. [15] Of potential clinical relevance, the researchers identified links between the occurrence of anhedonia and significant changes in levels of cytokine and stress hormones (e.g., corticosterone) in the rats' blood plasma.

Grippo and her colleagues have also conducted research on social isolation in relation to anxiety and depression in prairie vole, [8] [16] and associated disturbances in neuroendocrine activation that may be of clinical importance for understanding cardiovascular complications associated with stress. [17] One of her studies investigated the hypothesis that social and environmental stressors, including long term social isolation, may alter the expression of gap junction proteins, Connexin 43 and Connexin 45. [18] These proteins, located in the heart, play an important role in cardiac rhythmicity and intercellular communication. In this study, socially isolated prairie voles exhibited depressive behavior as compared to a control group (living in pairs). Social isolation was also found to alter the expression of Connexin 43 in the left ventricle of the heart, thus elucidating possible cellular mechanisms underlying altered cardiac rhythmicity in response to stress.

Representative publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stress (biology)</span> Organisms response to a stressor such as an environmental condition or a stimulus

Stress, either physiological, biological or psychological, is an organism's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition. Stress is the body's method of reacting to a condition such as a threat, challenge or physical and psychological barrier. There are two hormones that an individual produces during a stressful situation, these are well known as adrenaline and cortisol. There are two kinds of stress hormone levels. Resting (basal) cortisol levels are normal everyday quantities that are essential for standard functioning. Reactive cortisol levels are increases in cortisol in response to stressors. Stimuli that alter an organism's environment are responded to by multiple systems in the body. In humans and most mammals, the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are the two major systems that respond to stress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis</span> Set of physiological feedback interactions

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions among three components: the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands. These organs and their interactions constitute the HPA axis.

Anhedonia is a diverse array of deficits in hedonic function, including reduced motivation or ability to experience pleasure. While earlier definitions emphasized the inability to experience pleasure, anhedonia is currently used by researchers to refer to reduced motivation, reduced anticipatory pleasure (wanting), reduced consummatory pleasure (liking), and deficits in reinforcement learning. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), anhedonia is a component of depressive disorders, substance-related disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders, where it is defined by either a reduced ability to experience pleasure, or a diminished interest in engaging in pleasurable activities. While the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) does not explicitly mention anhedonia, the depressive symptom analogous to anhedonia as described in the DSM-5 is a loss of interest or pleasure.

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), also referred to as psychoendoneuroimmunology (PENI) or psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (PNEI), is the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. It is a subfield of psychosomatic medicine. PNI takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating psychology, neuroscience, immunology, physiology, genetics, pharmacology, molecular biology, psychiatry, behavioral medicine, infectious diseases, endocrinology, and rheumatology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie vole</span> Species of mammal

The prairie vole is a small vole found in central North America. The vole has long, coarse grayish-brown fur on the upper portion of the body and yellowish fur on the lower portion of the body. It has short ears and a short tail, which is somewhat darker on top.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social isolation</span> Lack of contact between an individual and society

Social isolation is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and society. It differs from loneliness, which reflects temporary and involuntary lack of contact with other humans in the world. Social isolation can be an issue for individuals of any age, though symptoms may differ by age group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allostatic load</span> Wear and tear on the body due to stress

Allostatic load is "the wear and tear on the body" which accumulates as an individual is exposed to repeated or chronic stress. The term was coined by Bruce McEwen and Eliot Stellar in 1993. It represents the physiological consequences of chronic exposure to fluctuating or heightened neural or neuroendocrine response which results from repeated or prolonged chronic stress.

Social connection is the experience of feeling close and connected to others. It involves feeling loved, cared for, and valued, and forms the basis of interpersonal relationships.

"Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship." —Brené Brown, Professor of social work at the University of Houston

Chronic stress is the physiological or psychological response induced by a long-term internal or external stressor. The stressor, either physically present or recollected, will produce the same effect and trigger a chronic stress response. There is a wide range of chronic stressors, but most entail relatively prolonged problems, conflicts and threats that people encounter on a daily basis. And several chronic stressors, including "neighbourhood environment, financial strain, interpersonal stress, work stress and caregiving.", have been identified as associated with disease and mortality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social defeat</span>

Social defeat is a concept used in the study of the physiological and behavioral effects of hostile interactions among either conspecific animals, or humans, in either a dyadic or in a group-individual context, potentially generating very significant consequences in terms of control over resources, access to mates and social positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. Sue Carter</span> American biologist and behavioral neurobiologist

C. Sue Carter is an American biologist and behavioral neurobiologist. She is an internationally recognized expert in behavioral neuroendocrinology. In 2014 she was appointed Director of The Kinsey Institute and Rudy Professor of Biology at Indiana University. Carter was the first person to identify the physiological mechanisms responsible for social monogamy.

Animal models of depression are research tools used to investigate depression and action of antidepressants as a simulation to investigate the symptomatology and pathophysiology of depressive illness or used to screen novel antidepressants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social stress</span>

Social stress is stress that stems from one's relationships with others and from the social environment in general. Based on the appraisal theory of emotion, stress arises when a person evaluates a situation as personally relevant and perceives that they do not have the resources to cope or handle the specific situation. The activation of social stress does not necessarily have to occur linked to a specific event, the mere idea that the event may occur could trigger it. This means that any element that takes a subject out of their personal and intimate environment could become a stressful experience. Situation that makes them socially incompetent individuals.

Social monogamy in mammals is defined as a long term or sequential living arrangement between an adult male and an adult female.

Marriage and health are closely related. Married people experience lower morbidity and mortality across such diverse health threats as cancer, heart attacks, and surgery. There are gender differences in these effects which may be partially due to men's and women's relative status. Most research on marriage and health has focused on heterosexual couples, and more work is needed to clarify the health effects on same-sex marriage. Simply being married, as well as the quality of one's marriage, has been linked to diverse measures of health. Research has examined the social-cognitive, emotional, behavioral and biological processes involved in these links.

Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder is a subclass of the DSM-5 diagnosis of substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder.

Perseverative cognition is a collective term in psychology for continuous thinking about negative events in the past or in the future.

Major depression is often associated or correlated with immune function dysregulation, and the two are thought to share similar physiological pathways and risk factors. Primarily seen through increased inflammation, this relationship is bidirectional with depression often resulting in increased immune response and illness resulting in prolonged sadness and lack of activity. This association is seen both long-term and short-term, with the presence of one often being accompanied by the other and both inflammation and depression often being co-morbid with other conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confined environment psychology</span> Subcategory of environmental psychology

Confined environment psychology is a refined subcategory of environmental psychology. There can be severe neurological impacts upon remaining in a confined environment over a prolonged period of time. Confined environment psychology can come in different forms, including; by location and lack of or limited human interaction. The broad subcategory also includes the effects of social isolation on animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staci Bilbo</span> American neuroimmunologist

Staci Bilbo is an American neuroimmunologist and The Haley Family Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. Bilbo also holds a position as a research affiliate at Massachusetts General Hospital overseeing research within the Lurie Center for Autism. As the principal investigator of the Bilbo Lab, Bilbo investigates how environmental challenges during the perinatal period impact the immune system and further influence brain development, cognition, and affective behaviors later in life.

References

  1. ↑ "2012 APA Distinguished Scientific Award recipients". www.apa.org. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  2. ↑ "Angela J. Grippo: Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology". American Psychologist. 67 (8): 632–634. 2012. doi:10.1037/a0029721. ISSN   1935-990X. PMID   23163443.
  3. ↑ "Why Reveal Your Disability or 'Hidden Identity' at Work?". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  4. ↑ "Three Tips for Staying Heart Healthy". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  5. ↑ "Why Stress Is Both Good and Bad". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  6. ↑ "Dr. Angela Grippo, PhD | Society for Health Psychology". Society for Health Psychology. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  7. ↑ "Neurotree - Angela J. Grippo Family Tree". neurotree.org. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  8. 1 2 Grippo, Angela J.; Cushing, Bruce S.; Carter, C Sue (2007). "Depression-Like Behavior and Stressor-Induced Neuroendocrine Activation in Female Prairie Voles Exposed to Chronic Social Isolation". Psychosomatic Medicine. 69 (2): 149–157. doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e31802f054b. ISSN   0033-3174. PMC   3006075 . PMID   17289829.
  9. ↑ CARTER, C; GRIPPO, A; POURNAJAFINAZARLOO, H; RUSCIO, M; PORGES, S (2008), "Oxytocin, vasopressin and sociality", Advances in Vasopressin and Oxytocin — From Genes to Behaviour to Disease, Elsevier, vol. 170, pp. 331–336, doi:10.1016/s0079-6123(08)00427-5, ISBN   9780444532015, PMID   18655893
  10. ↑ Angela, Grippo. "Behavioral autonomic and endocrine regulation in depression and heart disease". Grantome.
  11. ↑ "American Physiological Society > Women in Physiology Committee". www.the-aps.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2018-12-02.
  12. ↑ Grippo, Angela J.; Johnson, Alan Kim (2001). "Stress, depression and cardiovascular dysregulation: A review of neurobiological mechanisms and the integration of research from preclinical disease models". Stress. 12 (1): 1–21. doi:10.1080/10253890802046281. ISSN   1025-3890. PMC   2613299 . PMID   19116888.
  13. ↑ Grippo, Angela J. (2011). "The Utility of Animal Models in Understanding Links between Psychosocial Processes and Cardiovascular Health". Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 5 (4): 164–179. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00342.x. ISSN   1751-9004. PMC   3178448 . PMID   21949540.
  14. ↑ Grippo, Angela J.; Sullivan, Nicole R.; Damjanoska, Katerina J.; Crane, James W.; Carrasco, Gonzalo A.; Shi, Ju; Chen, Zhuo; Garcia, Francisca; Muma, Nancy A. (2004-12-24). "Chronic mild stress induces behavioral and physiological changes, and may alter serotonin 1A receptor function, in male and cycling female rats". Psychopharmacology. 179 (4): 769–780. doi:10.1007/s00213-004-2103-4. ISSN   0033-3158. PMID   15619113. S2CID   22695146.
  15. ↑ Grippo, Angela J.; Francis, Joseph; Beltz, Terry G.; Felder, Robert B.; Johnson, Alan Kim (2005). "Neuroendocrine and cytokine profile of chronic mild stress-induced anhedonia". Physiology & Behavior. 84 (5): 697–706. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2005.02.011. ISSN   0031-9384. PMID   15885245. S2CID   25466346.
  16. ↑ Grippo, Angela J.; Gerena, Davida; Huang, Jonathan; Kumar, Narmda; Shah, Maulin; Ughreja, Raj; Sue Carter, C. (2007). "Social isolation induces behavioral and neuroendocrine disturbances relevant to depression in female and male prairie voles". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 32 (8–10): 966–980. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.07.004. ISSN   0306-4530. PMC   2174914 . PMID   17825994.
  17. ↑ Carnevali, L.; Mastorci, F.; Graiani, G.; Razzoli, M.; Trombini, M.; Pico-Alfonso, M.A.; Arban, R.; Grippo, A.J.; Quaini, F. (2012). "Social defeat and isolation induce clear signs of a depression-like state, but modest cardiac alterations in wild-type rats". Physiology & Behavior. 106 (2): 142–150. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.01.022. ISSN   0031-9384. PMID   22330326. S2CID   22027357.
  18. ↑ Grippo, Angela J.; Moffitt, Julia A.; Henry, Matthew K.; Firkins, Rachel; Senkler, Jonathan; McNeal, Neal; Wardwell, Joshua; Scotti, Melissa-Ann L.; Dotson, Ashley (2015). "Altered Connexin 43 and Connexin 45 Protein Expression in the Heart as a Function of Social and Environmental Stress in the Prairie Vole". Stress. 18 (1): 107–114. doi:10.3109/10253890.2014.979785. ISSN   1025-3890. PMC   4675659 . PMID   25338193.
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