Professor Shane O'Mara
Professor of Experimental Brain Research, Psychology
Professor of Experimental Brain Research, Trinity Inst. of Neurosciences (TCIN)
Biography
I am Professor of Experimental Brain Research in Trinity College Dublin, and am a Principal Investigator in, and was the Director of, the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience from 209-2016; I am a member of the academic staff of the School of Psychology.
I was an undergraduate and postgraduate at NUI Galway (BA, MA). I undertook my doctoral work (DPhil) at the University of Oxford. I am a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin (FTCD) and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (FAPS). I was also elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA).
Research Focus: My academic research concerns the brain systems supporting learning and memory, and how they are affected by stress and depression; I also explore the intersection of psychology and neuroscience with policy, evidence-based policy-making and related areas. To borrow a phrase, I am interested in understanding how `the brain meets the world". I have published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers since 1993 in leading international journals, in addition to having written 4 full-length monographs. I have also edited many special issues of journals and books.
Research Support and Research Funding: My research work has been or currently is supported by the Wellcome Trust; Science Foundation Ireland; the Health Research Board; the European Commission; GlaxoSmithKline; Alkermes.
I blog at www.brainpizza.com, mostly on neuroscience-, psychology-, science- and public policy-related themes (and maybe the intersection of all of these themes, but sometimes on other things entirely).
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Alanezi, S.T. and Almutairi, W.M. and Cronin, M. and Gobbo, O. and O'Mara, S.M. and Sheppard, D. and O'Connor, W.T. and Gilchrist, M.D. and Kleefeld, C. and Colgan, N., Whole-brain traumatic controlled cortical impact to the left frontal lobe: Magnetic resonance image-based texture analysis, Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 83, (2), 2024, p94-106
Fischer, V. and O'Mara, S.M., â~They deserve it for what they're doingâ : dehumanising rhetoric as a facilitator of the recourse to violence against the defenceless, Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 51, (101280), 2023
Richie-Halford, A. and Cieslak, M. and Ai, L. and Caffarra, S. and Covitz, S. and Franco, A.R. and Karipidis, I.I. and Kruper, J. and Milham, M. and Avelar-Pereira, B. and Roy, E. and Sydnor, V.J. and Yeatman, J.D. and Abbott, N.J. and Anderson, J.A.E. and Gagana, B. and Bleile, M.L. and Bloomfield, P.S. and Bottom, V. and Bourque, J. and Boyle, R. and Brynildsen, J.K. and Calarco, N. and Castrellon, J.J. and Chaku, N. and Chen, B. and Chopra, S. and Coffey, E.B.J. and Colenbier, N. and Cox, D.J. and Crippen, J.E. and Crouse, J.J. and David, S. and Leener, B.D. and Delap, G. and Deng, Z.-D. and Dugre, J.R. and Eklund, A. and Ellis, K. and Ered, A. and Farmer, H. and Faskowitz, J. and Finch, J.E. and Flandin, G. and Flounders, M.W. and Fonville, L. and Frandsen, S.B. and Garic, D. and Garrido-Vásquez, P. and Gonzalez-Escamilla, G. and Grogans, S.E. and Grotheer, M. and Gruskin, D.C. and Guberman, G.I. and Haggerty, E.B. and Hahn, Y. and Hall, E.H. and Hanson, J.L. and Harel, Y. and Vieira, B.H. and Hettwer, M.D. and Hobday, H. and Horien, C. and Huang, F. and Huque, Z.M. and James, A.R. and Kahhale, I. and Kamhout, S.L.H. and Keller, A.S. and Khera, H.S. and Kiar, G. and Kirk, P.A. and Kohl, S.H. and Korenic, S.A. and Korponay, C. and Kozlowski, A.K. and Kraljevic, N. and Lazari, A. and Leavitt, M.J. and Li, Z. and Liberati, G. and Lorenc, E.S. and Lossin, A.J. and Lotter, L.D. and Lydon-Staley, D.M. and Madan, C.R. and Magielse, N. and Marusak, H.A. and Mayor, J. and McGowan, A.L. and Mehta, K.P. and Meisler, S.L. and Michael, C. and Mitchell, M.E. and Morand-Beaulieu, S. and Newman, B.T. and Nielsen, J.A. and Oâ Mara, S.M. and Ojha, A. and Omary, A. and Ã-zarslan, E. and Parkes, L. and Peterson, M. and Pines, A.R. and Pisanu, C. and Rich, R.R. and Sacchet, M.D. and Sahoo, A.K. and Samara, A. and Sayed, F. and Schneider, J.T. and Shaffer, L.S. and Shatalina, E. and Sims, S.A. and Sinclair, S. and Song, J.W. and Hogrogian, G.S. and Tamnes, C.K. and Tooley, U.A. and Tripathi, V. and Turker, H.B. and Valk, S.L. and Wall, M.B. and Walther, C.K. and Wang, Y. and Wegmann, B. and Welton, T. and Wiesman, A.I. and Wiesman, A.G. and Wiesman, M. and Winters, D.E. and Yuan, R. and Zacharek, S.J. and Zajner, C. and Zakharov, I. and Zammarchi, G. and Zhou, D. and Zimmerman, B. and Zoner, K. and Satterthwaite, T.D. and Rokem, A., Author Correction: An analysis-ready and quality controlled resource for pediatric brain white-matter research (Scientific Data, (2022), 9, 1, (616), 10.1038/s41597-022-01695-7), Scientific Data, 10, (1), 2023
Aggleton, J.P. and Vann, S.D. and O'Mara, S.M., Converging diencephalic and hippocampal supports for episodic memory, Neuropsychologia, 191, (108728), 2023
Aggleton, J.P. and Nelson, A.J.D. and O'Mara, S.M., Time to retire the serial Papez circuit: Implications for space, memory, and attention, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 140, (104813), 2022
Fischer, V. and O'Mara, S.M., Neural, psychological, and social foundations of collective memory: Implications for common mnemonic processes, agency, and identity, Progress in Brain Research, 274, (1), 2022, p1-30
Rizzello, E. and Martin, S.K. and Rouine, J. and Callaghan, C. and Mathiasen, M.L. and O'Mara, S.M., Place cells in the claustrum remap under NMDA receptor control, European Journal of Neuroscience, 56, (2), 2022, p3825-3838
O'Mara, S.M., Preface: Collective memory comes of age, Progress in Brain Research, 274, (1), 2022, pxiii-xiv
Yanakieva, S. and Mathiasen, M.L. and Amin, E. and Nelson, A.J.D. and O'Mara, S.M. and Aggleton, J.P., Collateral rostral thalamic projections to prelimbic, infralimbic, anterior cingulate and retrosplenial cortices in the rat brain, European Journal of Neuroscience, 56, (10), 2022, p5869-5887
Roddy, D. and Kelly, J.R. and Farrell, C. and Doolin, K. and Roman, E. and Nasa, A. and Frodl, T. and Harkin, A. and O'Mara, S. and O'Hanlon, E. and O'Keane, V., Amygdala substructure volumes in Major Depressive Disorder, NeuroImage: Clinical, 31, (102781), 2021
Bubb, E.J. and Aggleton, J.P. and O'Mara, S.M. and Nelson, A.J.D., Chemogenetics Reveal an Anterior Cingulate-Thalamic Pathway for Attending to Task-Relevant Information, Cerebral Cortex, 31, (4), 2021, p2169-2186
Mathiasen, M.L. and O'Mara, S.M. and Aggleton, J.P., The anterior thalamic nuclei and nucleus reuniens: So similar but so different, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 119, 2020, p268-280
Dillingham, C.M. and Milczarek, M.M. and Perry, J.C. and Frost, B.E. and Parker, G.D. and Assaf, Y. and Sengpiel, F. and O'Mara, S.M. and Vann, S.D., Mammillothalamic disconnection alters hippocampocortical oscillatory activity and microstructure: Implications for diencephalic amnesia, Journal of Neuroscience, 39, (34), 2019, p6696-6713
Mathiasen, M.L. and Amin, E. and Nelson, A.J.D. and Dillingham, C.M. and O'Mara, S.M. and Aggleton, J.P., Separate cortical and hippocampal cell populations target the rat nucleus reuniens and mammillary bodies, European Journal of Neuroscience, 49, (12), 2019, p1649-1672
Shane O'Mara, In Praise of Walking: The New Science of how We Walk and why It's Good for Us, 1st, London, Bodley Head, 2019, 1-256pp
Charlotte K. Callaghan, Jennifer Rouine, Md Nurul Islam, David J. Eyerman, Karen L. Smith, Laura Blumberg, Connie Sanchez, Shane M. O"Mara, Differential effects of opioid receptor modulators on motivational and stress-coping behaviors in the back-translational rat IFN-" depression model, 2019
Shane O'Mara, In Praise of Walking: The New Science of how We Walk and why It's Good for Us, 1st, London, Bodley Head, 2019, 1-256pp
Christopher M Dillingham, Mathias L Mathiasen, Bethany E Frost, Marie AC Lambert, Emma J Bubb, Maciej M Jankowski, John P Aggleton, Shane M O"Mara, The anatomical boundary of the rat claustrum, 2019
O'Mara, S. and Schiemann, J., Torturing science: Science, interrogational torture, and public policy, Politics and the Life Sciences, 38, (2), 2019, p180-192
Shane O'Mara, John Aggleton, Space and Memory (far) beyond the Hippocampus: Many Subcortical Structures also Support Cognitive Mapping and Mnemonic Processing, 2019
Passecker, J. and Islam, M.N. and Hok, V. and O'Mara, S.M., Influences of photic stress on postsubicular head-directional processing, European Journal of Neuroscience, 47, (8), 2018, p1003-1012
Pawel Matulewicz, Katharina Ulrich, Md Nurul Islam, Mathias L Mathiasen, John P Aggleton, Shane M O"Mara, Proximal perimeter encoding in the rat rostral thalamus, 2018
O'Mara S, The Captive Brain: Torture and the Neuroscience of Humane Interrogation, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 111, (2), 2018, p73-78
Barlow, S. and Fahey, B. and Smith, K.J. and Passecker, J. and Della-Chiesa, A. and Hok, V. and Day, J.S. and Callaghan, C.K. and O'Mara, S.M., Deficits in temporal order memory induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-α) treatment are rescued by aerobic exercise, Brain Research Bulletin, 140, 2018, p212-219
Shane O'Mara, John Schiemann, It's not biology bro: Torture and the Misuse of Science, 2018
Callaghan, C.K. and Rouine, J. and Dean, R.L. and Knapp, B.I. and Bidlack, J.M. and Deaver, D.R. and O'Mara, S.M., Antidepressant-like effects of 3-carboxamido seco-nalmefene (3CS-nalmefene), a novel opioid receptor modulator, in a rat IFN-α-induced depression model, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 67, 2018, p152-162
Rouine, J. and Callaghan, C.K. and O'Mara, S.M., Opioid modulation of depression: A focus on imaging studies, Progress in Brain Research, 239, 2018, p229-252
Callaghan, C.K. and Rouine, J. and O'Mara, S.M., Potential roles for opioid receptors in motivation and major depressive disorder, Progress in Brain Research, 239, 2018, p89-119
O'Mara, S., The captive brain: Torture and the neuroscience of humane interrogation, QJM, 111, (2), 2018, p73-78
Jankowski, M.M. and Islam, M.N. and O'Mara, S.M., Dynamics of spontaneous local field potentials in the anterior claustrum of freely moving rats, Brain Research, 1677, 2017, p101-117
Callaghan, C.K. and Rouine, J. and O'Mara, S.M., Exercise prevents IFN-α-induced mood and cognitive dysfunction and increases BDNF expression in the rat, Physiology and Behavior, 179, 2017, p377-383
Hegde P, O'Mara S, Laxmi TR., Extinction of Contextual Fear with Timed Exposure to Enriched Environment: A Differential Effect., Annals of neurosciences, 24, (2), 2017, p90-104
C Greene, J Kealy, M M Humphries, Y Gong, J Hou, N Hudson, L M Cassidy, R Martiniano, V Shashi, S R Hooper, G A Grant, P F Kenna, K Norris, C K Callaghan, M dN Islam, S M O'Mara, Z Najda, S G Campbell, J S Pachter, J Thomas, N M Williams, P Humphries, K C Murphy, M Campbell, Dose-dependent expression of claudin-5 is a modifying factor in schizophrenia, Molecular Psychiatry, 2017
Brotons-Mas JR, Schaffelhofer S, Guger C, O'Mara SM, Sanchez-Vives MV, Heterogeneous spatial representation by different subpopulations of neurons in the subiculum., Neuroscience, 343, 2017, p174 - 189
Shane O'Mara, A Brain for Business - A Brain for Life, 1st, London, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017, 10.1007/978-3-319-49154-7pp
O'Mara, S.M., Place Cells: Knowing Where You Are Depends on Knowing Where You're Heading, Current Biology, 27, (17), 2017, pR834-R836
Rahman M.M, Callaghan C.K, Kerskens C.M, Chattarji S, O'Mara S.M, Early hippocampal volume loss as a marker of eventual memory deficits caused by repeated stress, Scientific Reports, 6, 2016, p29127
O'Mara Shane, Objects & Place cells in Claustrum, Trinity College Dublin, 2015
O'Mara S, Tsanov M., The Connected Hippocampus. Preface., Progress in brain research, 219, 2015, pxiii-xiv
Kelly JA, Boyle NT, Cole N, Slator GR, Colivicchi MA, Stefanini C, Gobbo OL, Scalabrino GA, Ryan SM, Elamin M, Walsh C, Vajda A, Goggin MM, Campbell M, Mash DC, O'Mara SM, Brayden DJ, Callanan JJ, Tipton KF, Della Corte L, Hunter J, O'Boyle KM, Williams CH, Hardiman O, First-in-class thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-based compound binds to a pharmacologically distinct TRH receptor subtype in human brain and is effective in neurodegenerative models., Neuropharmacology, 89C, 2015, p193-203
Shane O'Mara, Why Torture Doesn't Work: The Neuroscience of Interrogation, 1st, Cambridge, MA and London, UK, Harvard University Press, 2015, 1-336pp
Tsanov, M. O'Mara, S.M., Decoding signal processing in thalamo-hippocampal circuitry: Implications for theories of memory and spatial processing, Brain Research, 1621, 2015, p368-379
Callaghan C.K, O'Mara S.M, Long-term cognitive dysfunction in the rat following docetaxel treatment is ameliorated by the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, rolipram, Behavioural Brain Research, 290, 2015, p84 - 89
Jankowski M.M, Passecker J, Islam N, Vann S, Erichsen J.T, Aggleton J.P, Oâ Mara S.M, Evidence for spatially-responsive neurons in the rostral thalamus, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 9, (OCT), 2015
Dillingham C.M, Erichsen J.T, O'Mara S.M, Aggleton J.P, Vann S.D, Fornical and nonfornical projections from the rat hippocampal formation to the anterior thalamic nuclei, Hippocampus, 25, (9), 2015, p977 - 992
Jankowski M.M, Oâ Mara S.M, Dynamics of place, boundary and object encoding in rat anterior claustrum, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 9, (OCT), 2015
Smith KJ, Mullally S, McLoughlin D, O'Mara S., Validation of the face-name pairs task in major depression: impaired recall but not recognition., Front Psychol., 12, (5), 2014, 92
Glaviano A, O'Donovan SM, Ryan KM, O'Mara S, Dunn MJ, McLoughlin DM , Acute phase plasma proteins are altered by electroconvulsive stimulation, J Psychopharmacol , 28, (12), 2014, p1125 - 1134
Cooke GE, Mullally S, Correia N, O'Mara SM, Gibney J. , Hippocampal Volume Is Decreased in Adults with Hypothyroidism, Thyroid, 24, (3), 2014, p433-40
Jankowski MM, Islam MN, Wright NF, Vann SD, Erichsen JT, Aggleton JP, O'Mara SM, Nucleus reuniens of the thalamus contains head direction cells., eLife, 3, 2014
Tsanov M, Chah E, Reilly R, O'Mara SM, Respiratory cycle entrainment of septal neurons mediates the fast coupling of sniffing rate and hippocampal theta rhythm., The European journal of neuroscience, 39, (6), 2014, p957-74
Tsanov M, Chah E, Reilly R, O'Mara SM. , Respiratory cycle entrainment of septal neurons mediates the fast coupling of sniffing rate and hippocampal theta rhythm. , Eur J Neurosci., 39, (6), 2014, p957-974
Tsanov M, Chah E, Noor MS, Egan C, Reilly RB, Aggleton JP, Erichsen JT, Vann SD, O'Mara SM, The irregular firing properties of thalamic head direction cells mediate turn-specific modulation of the directional tuning curve., Journal of neurophysiology, 112, (9), 2014, p2316-31
Passecker J, Barlow S, O'Mara SM., Dissociating effects of acute photic stress on spatial, episodic-like and working memory in the rat., Behavioural brain research, 272, 2014, p218-225
O'Donovan SM, O'Mara S, Dunn MJ, McLoughlin DM , The persisting effects of electroconvulsive stimulation on the hippocampal proteome, Brain Research , 1593, 2014, p106 - 116
Rahman MM, Kerskens CM, Chattarji S, O'Mara SM, Chronic immobilization stress occludes in vivo cortical activation in an animal model of panic induced by carbon dioxide inhalation., Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 8, 2014, p311
Jankowski MM, Ronnqvist KC, Tsanov M, Vann SD, Wright NF, Erichsen JT, Aggleton JP, O'Mara SM, The anterior thalamus provides a subcortical circuit supporting memory and spatial navigation., Frontiers in systems neuroscience, 7, 2013, p45
Mullally, SL & O'Mara, SM , Suppressing the encoding of new information: A behavioral study derived from principles of hippocampal function. , PLoS One, 8, (1), 2013, pe50814
Norman GJ, Carlson JA, O'Mara S, Sallis JF, Patrick K, Frank LD, Godbole SV., Neighborhood preference, walkability and walking in overweight/obese men., American journal of health behavior, 37, (2), 2013, p277-282
Wright, N, Vann, SD, Erichsen, J, O'Mara, SM & Aggleton, JP, Segregation of parallel inputs to the anteromedial and anteroventral thalamic nuclei of the rat, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 521, (13), 2013, p2966-2986
Sinead O'Donovan, Mark Kennedy, Blaithin Guinan, Shane O'Mara, Declan M. McLoughlin, A comparison of brief pulse and ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive stimulation on rodent brain and behaviour, Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 37, (1), 2012, p147-52
Middei, S., Spalloni, A., Longone, P., Pittenger, C., O'Mara, S.M., Marie, H., Ammassari-Teule, M., CREB selectively controls learning-induced structural remodeling of neurons, Learning and Memory, 19, (8), 2012, p330-336
Hok V, Chah E, Reilly RB, O'Mara SM, Hippocampal dynamics predict interindividual cognitive differences in rats., The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 32, (10), 2012, p3540-51
Deguzman ZC, O'Mara SK, Sulo S, Haines T, Blackburn L, Corazza J., Bacteriostatic normal saline compared with buffered 1% lidocaine when injected intradermally as a local anesthetic to reduce pain during intravenous catheter insertion., Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, 27, (6), 2012, p399-407
Smith, K.J., Norris, S., McKiernan, S., Hynes, B., O'Dwyer, A.M., O'Mara, S.M., An Exploration of Depressive Symptoms in Hepatitis C Patients Taking Interferon-alpha: Increase in Sickness Behaviors but not Negative Cognitions, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology, 2, (3), 2012, p218-223
Feeney, J., Gaffney, P., O'Mara, S.M., Age and cortisol levels modulate judgment of positive and negative facial expressions, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37, (6), 2012, p827-835
Callaghan, C.K., Hok, V., Della-Chiesa, A., (...), Upton, N., O'Mara, S.M., Age-related declines in delayed non-match-to-sample performance (DNMS) are reversed by the novel 5HT6 receptor antagonist SB742457, Neuropharmacology, 63, (5), 2012, p890-897
Wang, B.W., Hok, V., Della-Chiesa, A., Callaghan, C., Barlow, S., Tsanov, M., Bechara, R., Irving, E., Virley, D.J., Upton, N., O'Mara, S.M., Rosiglitazone enhances learning, place cell activity, and synaptic plasticity in middle-aged rats, Neurobiology of Aging, 33, (4), 2012, p835.e13-835.e30
Middei S, Spalloni A, Longone P, Pittenger C, O'Mara SM, Marie H, Ammassari-Teule M., CREB selectively controls learning-induced structural remodeling of neurons., Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), 19, (8), 2012, p330-336
Steinemann N.A., Tsanov M., Reilly R.B., O'Mara S.M., Assessing Attractor Models as a means to Explain Sense of Head-Direction during Theta Sleep in Rodents, Proceedings of the 8th Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum (FENS),, 8th Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum (FENS),, Barcelona, July, 2012
O'Donovan S, Kennedy M, Guinan B, O'Mara S, McLoughlin DM, A comparison of brief pulse and ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive stimulation on rodent brain and behaviour., Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 37, (1), 2012, p147-52
Noor M.S, Tsanov M, Reilly R.B., O'Mara S.M, Theta burst stimulation to medial septum enhances spatial coherence of hippocampal place cell representation, Proceedings of the AREADNE: Research in Encoding And Decoding of Neural Ensembles, AREADNE: Research in Encoding And Decoding of Neural Ensembles, Santorini, Greece, June, 2012
Chah E, Hok V, O'Mara SM, Reilly RB, A waveform independent cell identification method to study long-term variability of spike recordings., Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference, 2011, 2011, p2558-61
Hok, V., Chah, E., Reilly, R.B., O'Mara, S.M., Place cell discharge variability predicts individual neurocognitive performance in rats, Proceedings of the 10th Colloque de la Société des Neurosciences, 10th Colloque de la Société des Neurosciences, Marsaille, 2011
Griffin EW, Mulally S, Foley C. Warmington SA. O'Mara SM Kelly ÁM, Aerobic exercise improves hippocampal function and increases BDNF in the serum of young adult males, Physiology & Behavior, 104, (5), 2011, p934-941
Kelly, L. , Grehan, B. , Chiesa, A.D. , O'Mara, S.M. , Downer, E. , Sahyoun, G. , Massey, K.A. , Nicolaou, A. , Lynch, M.A, The polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DPA exert a protective effect in the hippocampus of the aged rat, Neurobiology of Aging, 32, (12), 2011, p2318.e1-2318.e15
Tsanov, M., Wright, N, Vann, SD, Erichsen, J, Aggleton, JP & O'Mara, SM. , Differential Regulation Of Synaptic Plasticity Of The Hippocampal And The Hypothalamic Inputs To The Anterior Thalamus., Hippocampus,, 21, 2011, p1 - 8
Vann, S.D., Erichsen, J.T., O'Mara, S.M., Aggleton, J.P., Selective disconnection of the hippocampal formation projections to the mammillary bodies produces only mild deficits on spatial memory tasks: Implications for fornix function, Hippocampus, 21, (9), 2011, p945-957
Marian Tsanov, Nick Wright, Seralynne D. Vann, Jonathan T. Erichsen, John. P. Aggleton, Shane M. O'Mara, Hippocampal inputs mediate theta-related plasticity in anterior thalamus, Neuroscience, 187, 2011, p52-62
Muireann Irish, Brian A. Lawlor, Shane M. O'Mara and Robert F. Coen, Impaired capacity for autonoetic reliving during autobiographical event recall in mild Alzheimer's disease , Cortex, 47, (2), 2011, p236-249
Passecker J, Hok V, Della-Chiesa A, Chah E, O'Mara SM, Dissociation of dorsal hippocampal regional activation under the influence of stress in freely behaving rats., Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 5, 2011, p66-
Tsanov, M; Chah, E; Vann, SD; Reilly, RB; Erichsen, JT; Aggleton, JP; O'Mara, SM, Theta-Modulated Head Direction Cells in the Rat Anterior Thalamus, Journal of Neuroscience, 31, (26), 2011, p9489-502
Tsanov M, Chah E, Wright N, Vann SD, Reilly R, Erichsen JT, Aggleton JP, O'Mara SM., Oscillatory Entrainment of Thalamic Neurons by Theta Rhythm in Freely-Moving Rats., Journal of Neurophysiology, 105, 2011, p4 - 17
, Theta-modulated head direction cells in the rat anterior thalamus, The Journal of Neuroscience, 2011
Muireann Irish, Brian A Lawlor, Robert F Coen, Shane M O'Mara, Everyday episodic memory in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a preliminary investigation, BMC Neuroscience, 12, 2011, p80-
Chah, E, Hok, V, Della-Chiesa, V, Miller, JJH, O'Mara SM & Reilly, RB. , Automated spike sorting algorithm based on Laplacian eigenmaps and k-means clustering, Journal of Neural Engineering, 8, 2011, p016006
O'Mara, S., On the imposition of torture, an extreme stressor state, to extract information from memory: A baleful consequence of folk cognitive neurobiology, Zeitschrift fur Psychologie / Journal of Psychology, 219, (3), 2011, p159-166
Chah, E., Hok, V., O'Mara, S.M., Reilly, R.B., A waveform independent cell identification method to study long-term variability of spike recordings., Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference, 2011, 2011, p2558-2561
Irish, M., Lawlor, B.A., O'Mara, S.M., Coen, R.F. , Exploring the recollective experience during autobiographical memory retrieval in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment., Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , 16, 2010, p546 - 555
Brotons-Mas, JR, Montejo, N, O'Mara, SM, & Sanchez-Vives, MV., Stability Of Subicular Place Fields Across Multiple Light And Dark Transitions., European Journal of Neuroscience, 32, (4), 2010, 648-658
Aggleton JP, O'Mara SM, Vann SD, Wright NF, Tsanov M, Erichsen JT, Hippocampal-anterior thalamic pathways for memory: uncovering a network of direct and indirect actions., The European Journal of Neuroscience, 31, (12), 2010, p2292-307
Smith, KJ, Norris, S, O'Dwyer, AM & O'Mara, SM. , Risk factors for the development of depression in patients with Hepatitis C taking Interferon-alpha., Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2010, p1-18
Wright, N, Vann, SD, Erichsen, J, O'Mara, SM & Aggleton, JP, Parallel but separate inputs from limbic cortices to the mammillary bodies and anterior thalamic nuclei in the rat., Journal of Comparative Neurology, 518, 2010, p2334-2354
Roche, F.P., Sheahan, B.J., O'Mara, S.M., Atkins, G.J., Semliki Forest virus-mediated gene therapy of the RG2 rat glioma, Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 36, (7), 2010, p648-660
O'Hare, EE, Elliott, JJ, Hobson, P, O'Mara, SM, Spanswick, D, Kim, E-M , Bilateral Intrahippocampal NAC61-95 Effects on Behavior and Moderation with L-NAME Treatment. , Neuroscience Research, 66, 2010, p213 - 218
Colgan NC, Cronin MM, Gobbo OL, O'Mara SM, O'Connor WT, Gilchrist MD. , Quantitative MRI analysis of brain volume changes due to controlled cortical impact. , Journal of Neurotrauma, 27, (7), 2010, p1265-1274
Marian Tsanov, Declan G. Lyons, Sally Barlow, Rodrigo E. González Reyes, Shane M. O'Mara, The psychostimulant modafinil facilitates water maze performance and augments synaptic potentiation in dentate gyrus, Neuropharmacology, 59, (1-2), 2010, p9-19
Preface in, editor(s)Raquel de Pedro Ricoy, Isabelle Perez and Christine Wilson , Interpreting and Translating in Public Service Settings Policy, Practice, Pedagogy, Manchester, St. Jerome, 2009, ppvii - viii, [Lorraine Leeson ]
O'Mara SM, Sanchez-Vives MV, Brotons-Mas JR, O'Hare E., Roles for the subiculum in spatial information processing, memory, motivation and the temporal control of behaviour., Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 33, 2009, p782 - 790
Richard AP Roche, Sinéad L Mullally, Jonathan P McNulty, Judy Hayden, Paul Brennan, Colin P Doherty, Mary Fitzsimons, Deirdre McMackin, Julie Prendergast, Sunita Sukumaran, Maeve A Mangaoang, Ian H Robertson and Shane M O'Mara, Prolonged rote learning produces delayed memory facilitation and metabolic changes in the hippocampus of the ageing human brain , BMC Neuroscience , 10, 2009, art. no. 136
O'Mara SM, Torturing the Brain: On the folk psychology and folk neurobiology motivating 'enhanced and coercive interrogation techniques', Trends in Cognitive Science, 13, 2009, p497 - 500
Correia N, Mullally S, Cooke G, Kyaw Tun T, Phelan NA, Feeney J, Fitzgibbon M, Boran G, O'Mara SM, & Gibney J. , Evidence for a Specific Defect in Hippocampal Memory in Overt and Subclinical Hypothyroidism., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism,, 94, 2009, p3789 - 3797
Tsanov M, Vann SD, Erichsen JT, Wright N, Aggleton JP, O'Mara SM., Differential regulation of synaptic plasticity of the hippocampal and the hypothalamic inputs to the anterior thalamus, Hippocampus, 21, (1), 2009, p1-8
Synaptic plasticity and mnemonic encoding by hippocampal formation place cells. in, editor(s)TF Kaiser and FJ Peters , Synaptic Plasticity: New Research. , 2008, [Tsanov, M, Brotons, J, Sanchez-Vives, MV & O'Mara SM]
Kelly, AM, Larkin, A, Fahey, B, Gobbo, O, Callaghan, CK, Cahill, E, O'Mara, S.M. , Blockade of NMDA receptors pre-training, but not post-training, impairs object displacement learning in the rat, Brain Research, 1199, 2008, p126 - 132
Routes to Memory: Neuroplasticity in the Hippocampal Formation. in, editor(s)RAP Roche & S Commins , Pioneering Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience., Milton Keynes:, Open University Press, 2008, [O'Mara, SM]
Irish, M., Coen R.F., Lawlor, B.A. ,O'Mara, S.M., Assessment of Behavioural Markers of Autonoetic Consciousness during Episodic Autobiographical Memory Retrieval., Behavioural Neurology, 19, (1-2), 2008, p3-6
Cowley TR, Fahey B, O'Mara SM, COX-2, but not COX-1, activity is necessary for the induction of perforant path long-term potentiation and spatial learning in vivo, European Journal of Neuroscience, 27, (11), 2008, p2999 - 3008
Fahey, B., Barlow, S., Day, J.S., O'Mara, S.M., Interferon-α-induced deficits in novel object recognition are rescued by chronic exercise, Physiology and Behavior, 95, (1-2), 2008, p125-129
Fahey, B, Hickey B, Kelleher D, O'Dwyer AM, and O'Mara, SM, The Widely-Used Anti-Viral Drug Interferon-alpha Induces Depressive- and Anxiogenic-like Effects in Healthy Rats, Behavioural Brain Research, 182, 2007, p80 - 87
Reid, R.E., Kim, E-M., Page, D, O'Mara, S.M. and O'Hare, E. , Thyroxine replacement in an animal model of congenital hypothyroidism., Physiology and Behavior, 91, 2007, p299 - 303
Correia, N., Mullally, S., Kyaw Tun, T., Phelan, N.A., O'Mara, S., Boran, G., Gibney, J. , Effects of 3 months Eltroxin Replacement on Neuropsychological Abnormalities in Overt and Sub-clinical Hypothyroidism, Endocrine Society 89th Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, 2007
Brotons, J., O'Mara S.M. & Sanchez-Vives, M.V. , Neural processing of Spatial Information: What we know about Place cells and what they can tell us about Presence. , Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 15, 2007, p485 - 499
Roche, RAP, Commins, S, Agnew, F, Corapi, K, Leibbrand, S, Lipson, Z, Rickard, J, Sorohan, J & O'Mara, SM , Concurrent task performance enhances low-level visuomotor learning., Perception and Psychophysics, 69, 2007, p513 - 522
O'Mara, S.M. , Controlling Hippocampal Output: The Central Role Of Subiculum In Hippocampal Information Processing, Behavioural Brain Research, 174, 2006, p304 - 312
Special Issue of Behavioural Brain Research: The Mammalian Subiculum: Contrasting and Complementary In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches to Subicular Function, 174, 2, (2006), 197-312p, O'Mara, S.M., [ed.]
O'Mara, S.M. , Integrating the Subiculum Into Hippocampal Formation Circuitry and the Control of Instrumental Behavior, Behavioral Neuroscience, 120, 2006, p739 - 743
Gobbo, O.L. & O'Mara, S.M., Combining exercise and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition does not ameliorate learning deficits after brain insult, despite an increase in BDNF levels, Brain Research, 1046, 2005, p224 - 229
O'Mara, SM, Commins, S & Roche, RAP , Memory and The Brain: Re-Examining The Role Of The Hippocampal Formation, 2005
Roche, R.A.P., Mangaoang, M.A., Commins, S. & O'Mara, S.M. , Hippocampal Contributions To Neurocognitive Mapping In Humans: A New Model, Hippocampus, 15, 2005, p622 - 641
Roche, R.A.P., Garavan, H., Foxe, J.J. & O'Mara S.M. , Individual Differences Discriminate Event-Related Potentials But Not Performance During Response Inhibition, Experimental Brain Research, 160, 2005, p60 - 67
O'Mara S.M. , The Subiculum: What It Does, What It Might Do, And What Neuroanatomy Has Yet To Tell Us, Journal of Anatomy, 207, 2005, p271 - 282
Roche, RAP, Garavan, H, Foxe, JJ & O'Mara, SM , Individual differences discriminate event-related potentials but not performance during response inhibition, Experimental Brain Research, 160, (1), 2005, p60 - 70
Gobbo, O.L. & O'Mara, S.M., Exercise, But Not Environmental Enrichment, Enhances Functional Recovery From Kainic Acid-Induced Neurodegeneration In Association With An Increase In Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 159, (1), 2005, p21 - 26
Roche, RAP, Mangaoang, MA, Commins, S & O'Mara, SM , Hippocampal contributions to neurocognitive mapping in humans: A new model, Hippocampus, 15, (5), 2005, p622 - 641
Shaw, K.N., Commins, S. & O'Mara, S.M., Cyclooxygenase Inhibition Attenuates Endotoxin-Induced Spatial Learning Deficits, But Not an Endotoxin-Induced Blockade Of Long-Term Potentiation, BRAIN RESEARCH, 1038, (2), 2005, p231 - 237
Roche, RAP, Commins, S & O'Mara, SM , Low-level visuomotor learning disrupts higher-order behavioural control, Irish Journal of Psychology, 25, 2005, p16 - 25
McGauran, A.T., O'Mara, S.M. & Commins, S. , Vestibular Influence On Water Maze Retention: Transient Whole Body Rotations Improve The Accuracy Of The Cue-Based Retention Strategy. , Behavioural Brain Research, 158, 2005, p183 - 187
O'Mara S.M., The Subiculum: What It Does, What It Might Do, And What Neuroanatomy Has Yet To Tell Us, Journal of Anatomy, 207, 2005, p271 - 282
Gobbo OL, O'Mara SM, Post-treatment, but not pre-treatment, with the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib markedly enhances functional recovery from kainic acid-induced neurodegeneration, NEUROSCIENCE, 125 , (2), 2004, p317 - 327
Anderson, M. & O'Mara, S.M. , Activity of Subicular Units on a Spatial and Non-Spatial Version of an Open-Field Object Exploration Task, Experimental Brain Research, 159, 2004, p519 - 529
Roche, RAP, Dockree, PM, Garavan, H, Foxe, JJ, Robertson, IH & O'Mara, SM, EEG alpha power changes reflect response inhibition deficits after traumatic brain injury (TBI). , Neuroscience Letters, 362, (1), 2004, p1 - 5
Gobbo OL, O'Mara SM, Impact of enriched-environment housing on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and on cognitive performance after a transient global ischemia, BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 152, 2, (JUL 9), 2004, p231 - 241
Roche, RAP, Commins, S & O'Mara, SM , A Simple, Non-ferrous Forearm-Mounted Device For Measuring Degree Of Wrist Rotation After Injury or Surgery, 2004
Shaw KN, Commins S, O'Mara SM, Deficits in spatial learning and synaptic plasticity induced by the rapid and competitive broad-spectrum cyclooxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen are reversed by increasing endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor, EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 17, 11, (Jun), 2003, p2438 - 2446
Anderson MI, O'Mara SM, Analysis of recordings of single-unit firing and population activity in the dorsal subiculum of unrestrained, freely moving rats, JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 90, 2 , (AUG), 2003, p655 - 665
Roche, RAP & O'Mara, SM , Behavioural and electrophysiological correlates of visuomotor learning in a visual search task, Cognitive Brain Research, 15, (2), 2003, p127 - 136
GEMMELL, C, OMARA, SM, PLASTICITY IN THE PROJECTION FROM THE ANTERIOR THALAMIC NUCLEI TO THE ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX IN THE RAT IN VIVO: PAIRED-PULSE FACILITATION, LONG-TERM POTENTIATION AND SHORT-TERM DEPRESSION, NEUROSCIENCE, 109, 2002, p401 - 406
COMMINS, S, AGGLETON, JP, OMARA, SM, PHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR A POSSIBLE PROJECTION FROM DORSAL SUBICULUM TO HIPPOCAMPAL AREA CA1, EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 146, 2002, p155 - 160
OMARA, SM, "THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF ANXIETY" AS IT REALLY IS: A RESPONSE TO O'MARA (2001) - REPLY, 2002, -
GOONEY, M, SHAW, K, KELLY, A, OMARA, SM, LYNCH, MA, LONG-TERM POTENTIATION AND SPATIAL LEARNING ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED PHOSPHORYLATION OF TRKB AND EXTRACELLULAR SIGNAL-REGULATED KINASE (ERK) IN THE DENTATE GYRUS: EVIDENCE FOR A ROLE FOR BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, 116, 2002, p455 - 463
GEMMELL, C, ANDERSON, M, OMARA, SM, DEEP LAYER PREFRONTAL CORTEX UNIT DISCHARGE IN A CUE-CONTROLLED OPEN-FIELD ENVIRONMENT IN THE FREELY-MOVING RAT, BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 133, 2002, p1 - 10
COMMINS, S, ONEILL, LAJ, OMARA, SM, THE EFFECTS OF THE BACTERIAL ENDOTOXIN LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ON SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION AND PLASTICITY IN THE CA1-SUBICULUM PATHWAY IN VIVO, NEUROSCIENCE, 102, 2001, p273 - 280
SHAW, KN, COMMINS, S, OMARA, SM, LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE CAUSES DEFICITS IN SPATIAL LEARNING IN THE WATERMAZE BUT NOT IN BDNF EXPRESSION IN THE RAT DENTATE GYRUS, BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 124, 2001, p47 - 54
OMARA, SM, ANDERSON, M, GIGG, J, THE SUBICULUM: A REVIEW OF FORM, PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTION, by COMMINS, S , PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY, 64, 2001, p129 - 155
Commins S, O'Neill LA, O'Mara SM., The effects of the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide on synaptic transmission and plasticity in the CA1-subiculum pathway in vivo., Neuroscience, 102, (2), 2001, p273 - 280
The Nature Of Hippocampal-Cortical Interaction: Theoretical And Experimental Perspectives. Special Issue, Hippocampus, 10, 4, (2000), O'Mara, S.M., [eds.]
GEMMELL, C, OMARA, SM, LONG-TERM POTENTIATION AND PAIRED-PULSE FACILITATION IN THE PRELIMBIC CORTEX OF THE RAT FOLLOWING STIMULATION IN THE CONTRALATERAL HEMISPHERE IN VIVO, EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 132, 2000, p223 - 229
O'Mara, S.M., Commins, S., Anderson, M., Synaptic Plasticity In The Hippocampal Area CA1-Subiculum Projection: Implications For Theories Of Memory, Hippocampus, 10, 2000, p447 - 456
OMARA, SM, INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE ON THE NATURE OF HIPPOCAMPAL-CORTICAL INTERACTION: THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PERSPECTIVES, 2000, -
OMARA, SM, SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY IN THE HIPPOCAMPAL AREA CA1-SUBICULUM PROJECTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORIES OF MEMORY, HIPPOCAMPUS, 10, 2000, p447 - 456
ANDERSON, M, COMMINS, S, OMARA, SM, THE EFFECTS OF LOW FREQUENCY AND TWO-PULSE STIMULATION PROTOCOLS ON SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE CA1-SUBICULUM PATHWAY IN THE ANAESTHETIZED RAT, NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS, 279, 2000, p181 - 184
Gigg, J., Finch, D.M., O'Mara, S.M., Responses Of Morphologically Characterized Rat Subicular Neurons To Stimulation Of CA1 And Lateral Entorhinal Cortex In Vivo, Brain Research, 884, 2000, p35 - 50
COMMINS, S, OMARA, SM, INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PAIRED-PULSE FACILITATION, LOW-FREQUENCY STIMULATION, AND BEHAVIORAL STRESS IN THE PATHWAY FROM HIPPOCAMPAL AREA CA1 TO THE SUBICULUM: DISSOCIATION OF BASELINE SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION FROM PAIRED-PULSE FACILITATION AND DEPRESSION OF THE, PSYCHOBIOLOGY, 28, 2000, p1 - 11
GIGG, J, FINCH, DM, OMARA, SM, RESPONSES OF RAT SUBICULAR NEURONS TO CONVERGENT STIMULATION OF LATERAL ENTORHINAL CORTEX AND CA1 IN VIVO, BRAIN RESEARCH, 884, 2000, p35 - 50
COMMINS, S, ANDERSON, M, GIGG, J, OMARA, SM, THE EFFECTS OF SINGLE AND MULTIPLE EPISODES OF THETA PATTERNED OR HIGH FREQUENCY STIMULATION ON SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION FROM HIPPOCAMPAL AREA CA1 TO THE SUBICULUM IN RATS, NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS, 270, 1999, p99 - 102
Gemmell, C., O'Mara, S.M., Medial Prefrontal Cortex Lesions Cause Deficits In A Variable-Goal Location Task But Not In Object Exploration, Behavioral Neuroscience, 113, 1999, p465 - 474
COMMINS, S, GEMMELL, C, ANDERSON, M, GIGG, J, OMARA, SM, DISORIENTATION COMBINED WITH BILATERAL PARIETAL CORTEX LESIONS CAUSES PATH INTEGRATION DEFICITS IN THE WATER MAZE, BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 104, 1999, p197 - 200
GEMMELL, C, OMARA, SM, MEDIAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX LESIONS CAUSE DEFICITS IN A VARIABLE-GOAL LOCATION TASK BUT NOT IN OBJECT EXPLORATION, BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, 113, 1999, p465 - 474
Commins, S., Anderson, M., Gigg, J., O'Mara, S.M., Long-Term Potentiation Of The Projection From Hippocampal Area CA1 To The Subiculum: The Effects Of High-Frequency And Theta-Patterned Stimulation, Neuroscience Letters, 270, 1999, p99 - 102
Commins, S., Gemmell, C., Anderson, M., Gigg, J., O'Mara, S.M., Disorientation Combined With Parietal Cortex Lesions Causes Path Integration Deficits In The Water Maze, Behavioral Brain Research, 104, 1999, p197 - 200
COMMINS, S, GIGG, J, ANDERSON, M, OMARA, SM, INTERACTION BETWEEN PAIRED-PULSE FACILITATION AND LONG-TERM POTENTIATION IN THE PROJECTION FROM HIPPOCAMPAL AREA CA1 TO THE SUBICULUM, NEUROREPORT, 9, 1999, p4109 - 4113
HOLSCHER, C, OMARA, SM, METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR ACTIVATION AND BLOCKADE: THEIR ROLE IN LONG-TERM POTENTIATION, LEARNING AND NEUROTOXICITY, by GIGG, J , NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS, 23, 1999, p399 - 410
Hölscher, C., Gigg, J., O'Mara, S.M., Effects Of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Activation And Blockade In Vivo: Consequences For Long-Term Potentiation, Learning And Neurotoxicity, Neuroscience And Biobehavioral Reviews, 23, 1999, p399 - 410
Commins, S., Gigg, J., Anderson, M., O'Mara, S.M., Interactions Between Paired-Pulse Facilitation And Long-Term Potentiation In The Projection From Hippocampal Area CA1 To The Subiculum, Neuroreport, 9, 1998, p4109 - 4113
OMARA, SM, LONG-TERM POTENTIATION: DOES IT DESERVE ATTENTION?, 1998, -
Commins, S., Gigg, J. Anderson, M., O'Mara, S.M., The Projection From Hippocampal Area CA1 To The Subiculum Sustains Long-Term Potentiation, Neuroreport, 9, 1998, p847 - 850
COMMINS, S, GIGG, J, ANDERSON, M, OMARA, SM, THE PROJECTION FROM HIPPOCAMPAL AREA CA1 TO THE SUBICULUM SUSTAINS LONG-TERM POTENTIATION, NEUROREPORT, 9, 1998, p847 - 850
Lynch, M.A., O'Mara, S.M., Neuroscience Labfax , London, Academic Press, 1997
Experimental Neuropsychology: The Logic Of, And Lessons From, Lesions in, editor(s)Lynch, M.A., O'Mara, S.M. , Neuroscience Labfax, London, Academic Press, 1997, [O'Mara, S.M., Walsh, V.]
OMARA, SM, THE CEREBELLUM AND CEREBRAL CORTEX: CONTRASTING AND CONVERGING CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPATIAL NAVIGATION AND MEMORY, 1997, -
O'Mara, S.M., Commins, S., Gemmell, C., Gigg, J., Long-Term Potentiation: Does It Deserve Attention?, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 20, 1997, p625 - 626
O'Mara, S.M., The Cerebellum And Cerebral Cortex: Contrasting And Converging Contributions To Spatial Navigation And Memory, Behavioral & Brain Sciences, 19, 1996, p469 - 470
OMARA, SM, WHEN IS IT SENSIBLE TO USE PET TO STUDY BRAIN-FUNCTION, BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES, 18, 1995, p366 - 367
OMARA, SM, DANTROLENE INHIBITS LONG-TERM DEPRESSION AND DEPOTENTIATION OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE DENTATE GYRUS OF RAT HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES, unknown, 1995, 487P, ISI Web of Science, 1995, ppP55 - P56
OMARA, SM, ROWAN, MJ, ANWYL, R, DANTROLENE INHIBITS LONG-TERM DEPRESSION AND DEPOTENTIATION OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE RAT DENTATE GYRUS, NEUROSCIENCE, 68, 1995, p621 - 624
OMARA, SM, ROWAN, MJ, ANWYL, R, METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-INDUCED HOMOSYNAPTIC LONG-TERM DEPRESSION AND DEPOTENTIATION IN THE DENTATE GYRUS OF THE RAT HIPPOCAMPUS IN-VITRO, NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, 34, 1995, p983 - 989
O'Mara, S.M., Rowan, M.J., Anwyl, R., Dantrolene inhibits long-term depression and depotentiation of synaptic transmission in the rat dentate gyrus, Neuroscience, 68, (3), 1995, p621-624
O'Mara, S.M., Rolls, E.T., View-Responsive Neurons In The Primate Hippocampus, Hippocampus, 5, 1995, p409 - 424
OMARA, SM, SPATIALLY SELECTIVE FIRING PROPERTIES OF HIPPOCAMPAL-FORMATION NEURONS IN RODENTS AND PRIMATES, PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY, 45, 1995, p253 - 274
OMARA, SM, METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS CAN MEDIATE LONG-TERM DEPRESSION OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE DENTATE GYRUS OF RAT HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES INDEPENDENTLY OF NMDA RECEPTOR ACTIVATION, unknown, 1995, 483P, ISI Web of Science, 1995, ppP71 - P72
O'Mara, S.M., Spatially Selective Neurons In The Hippocampal Formation Of Rodents And Primates, Progress In Neurobiology, 45, 1995, p253 - 274
O'Mara, S.M., Rowan, M., Anwyl, R., Dantrolene Prevents Induction Of Long-Term Depression But Not Long-Term Potentiation In The Dentate Gyrus Of The Rat Hippocampal Slice, Neuroscience, 68, 1995, p621 - 624
O'Mara, S.M., Rowan, M., Anwyl, R., Dantrolene Inhibits Long-Term Depression And Depotentiation, But Not Long-Term Potentiation, Of Synaptic Transmission In The Dentate Gyrus Of Rat Hippocampal Slices, Journal of Physiology, 483, 1995, p55 - 56
O'Mara, S.M., Rowan, M.J., Anwyl, R., Metabotropic glutamate receptor-induced homosynaptic long-term depression and depotentiation in the dentate gyrus of the rat hippocampus in vitro, Neuropharmacology, 34, (8), 1995, p983-989
O'Mara, S.M., When Is It Sensible To Use PET To Study Brain Function?, Behavioral & Brain Sciences, 18, 1995, p366 - 367
O'Mara, S.M., Rowan, M., Anwyl, R., Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Involvement In Depotentiation And Long-Term Depression In The Dentate Gyrus Of Rat Hippocampal Slices, Neuropharmacology, 34, 1995, p983 - 989
WALSH, V, A SELECTION ON ATTENTION - SPECIAL ISSUE ON ATTENTION, Cognitive Neuropsychology, 11, 1994, p97 - 98
OMARA, SM, SPATIAL REPRESENTATION, SPATIAL NAVIGATION AND THE HIPPOCAMPUS, IRISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY, 14, 1994, p343 - 360
O'Mara, S.M., Walsh, V., The Cognitive Neuropsychology of Attention, Hove, East Sussex, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1994
O'Mara, S.M., Rolls, E.T., Berthoz, A., Kesner, R.P., Neurons Responding To Whole-Body Motion In The Primate Hippocampus, Journal Of Neuroscience, 14, 1994, p6511 - 6523
Perceptual Constancies. Special Issue, Irish Journal of Psychology, 13, 3, (1992), Walsh, V., O'Mara, S.M., [eds.]
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Mullally, SM, Roche, RAP, Laing, J, Robertson, IH & O'Mara, SM., A virtual lesion of the Human Hippocampus: Anteceding n-Back performance inhibits subsequent hippocampal-dependent memory function, Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting 2005, New York, USA. , 2005
Roche, RAP, Mullally, SL, Hayden, J, Brennan, P, Fitzsimons, M, McMackin, D, McNulty, J, Prendergast, J, Sukumaran, S, O'Mara, SM & Robertson, IH, Effects of Prolonged Rote Rehearsal on Learning and Hippocampal Metabolism in the Aged, Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting , San Francisco, USA. , 2004
Mullally, SL, Roche, RAP, Laing, J, Robertson, IH, & O'Mara, SM , Does Performance of a Working-Memory N-Back Task Impact on Episodic Verbal Learning, Recall and Recognition? , Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, USA. , 2004
Roche, RAP & O'Mara, SM, Event-related potentials during response inhibition in normal absentmindedness and traumatic brain injury, Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, EBBS 2003, Barcelona, Spain, 63 (Suppl), 2003, pp27-
O'Mara, S.M., Mangaoang, M.A., McMackin, D.M., Quigley, J., Relationship Of Language Disorder To Mnemonic Deficits After Unilateral Hippocampectomy In Human Patients, 2003
Roche, RAP & O'Mara, SM , Learning, attention and executive control in visuomotor association learning., EURESCO conference on Action and Perception in Three-Dimensional Space, Aquafredda di Maratea, Italy., 2003
O'Mara, S.M., Shaw, K.N., Commins, S., Broad-Spectrum Cyclooxygenase Inhibition Reversibly Blocks Long-Term Potentiation And Spatial Learning Via A Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Dependent Mechanism. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 2001
O'Mara, S.M., Hippocampal-Cortical Interaction - The Role Of The Subiculum. Behavioural Pharmacology, 2001
Gooney, MA, O'Mara, S.M., Lynch M.A., Long-Term Potentiation Induces Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Release And TrkB Phosphorylation. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 26, 2000, pp360
Commins, S., Shaw, K., O'Mara, S. M., The Effect Of Lipopolysaccharide On Learning And Retention In The Watermaze And BDNF Expression In The Rat Dentate Gyrus. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (S11), 2000, pp218
Roche, R.A.P.& O'Mara, S.M., Event-Related Potentials During Low-Level Visual Search: A Task Component Analysis. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (S11), 2000, pp99
OMARA, SM, THE EFFECTS OF THE ENDOTOXIN LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ON SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION AND PLASTICITY IN THE CA1-SUBICULUM PATHWAY IN VIVO, unknown, 2000, 12, ISI Web of Science, 2000, pp250 - 250
COMMINS, S, THE EFFECT OF LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ON LEARNING AND RETENTION IN THE WATERMAZE AND BDNF EXPRESSION IN THE RAT DENTATE GYRUS, unknown, 2000, 12, ISI Web of Science, 2000, pp83 - 83
DELANY, D, A BIOLOGICALLY REALISTIC MODEL OF HIPPOCAMPAL CA1-SUBICULUM INTERACTIONS, unknown, 2000, 12, ISI Web of Science, 2000, pp242 - 242
O'Mara, S. M., Commins, S., Lynch, M.A., O'Neill, L.A.J., The Effects Of The Endotoxin Lipopolysaccharide On Synaptic Transmission And Plasticity In The CA1-Subiculum Pathway In Vivo. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (S11), 2000, pp189
O'Mara, S.M., Anderson, M., Gobbo, O., Single-Unit Recordings In The Subiculum Of The Freely-Moving Rat In The Open Field And Radial Arm Maze. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 26, 2000, pp472
Roche, RAP & O'Mara, SM , Event-related potentials during low-level visual search: a task components analysis, European Journal of Neuroscience, FENS, Brighton, UK, 12 (Suppl. S), 2000, pp145-
ROCHE, RAP, EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS DURING LOW-LEVEL VISUAL SEARCH: A TASK COMPONENT ANALYSIS, unknown, 2000, 12, ISI Web of Science, 2000, pp145 - 145
SHAW, K, STRESS: HOW IT AFFECTS SPATIAL LEARNING AND BDNF EXPRESSION, unknown, 2000, 12, ISI Web of Science, 2000, pp330 - 330
Delany, D., O'Mara, S.M., A Biologically Realistic Model Of Hippocampal CA1-Subiculum Interaction. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (S11), 2000, pp242
Anderson, M., O'Mara, S.M., Single-Unit Recordings In The Subiculum Of The Freely-Moving Rat During A Pellet-Chasing Task. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (S11), 2000, pp87
Shaw, K., Gooney, M., Lynch, M.A., O'Mara, S.M., Stress: How It Affects Spatial Learning And BDNF Expression. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12 (S11), 2000, pp178
Shaw, K., Gooney, M., Lynch, M.A., O'Mara, S.M., Interactions Between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Expression, Behavioral Stress, Diet And Spatial Learning In The Water Maze. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 25, 1999, pp514
O'Mara, S.M., Commins, S., O'Neill, L.A.J., Martin, D.S.D., Lynch, M.A., Interactions Between Lipopolysaccharide And Low-Frequency Stimulation Of Synaptic Transmission Of The Hippocampal Area CA1-Subiculum Projection. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 25, 1999, pp856
Commins, S., Gigg, J., O'Mara, S.M., Interactions Between Behavioral Stress, Low-Frequency Stimulation And Paired-Pulse Facilitation. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 25, 1999, pp1534
O'Mara, S.M., Commins, S., Gigg, J., Anderson, M., Long-Term Potentiation Of The Projection From Hippocampal Area CA1 To The Subiculum. Neuropharmacology, S37, 2.08, 1998
Delany, D., Gilchrist, M. D., O'Mara, S.M., A Computational Analysis of the Subicular Complex of the Mammalian Brain. Annual Symposium of the Irish Society for Scientific & Engineering Computation, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, 1998
Ellison, A., Batelli, L., O'Mara, S.M., Walsh, V., Cowey, A., Human Visual Area V5 Is Important For Attention To Motion: A Magnetic Stimulation Study. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 24, 1998, pp1746
O'Donoghue, D., O'Mara, S. M., Gilchrist, M. D., Models for Predicting Brain Injuries due to High Velocity Impact. Annual Symposium of the Irish Society for Scientific & Engineering Computation, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, 1998
COMMINS, S, LONG-TERM POTENTIATION OF THE PROJECTION FROM HIPPOCAMPAL AREA CA1 TO THE SUBICULUM IN VIVO., unknown, 1998, 10, ISI Web of Science, 1998, pp21 - 21
Commins, S., Gigg, J., Anderson, M., O'Mara, S.M., Long-Term Potentiation Of The Projection From Hippocampal Area CA1 To The Subiculum In Vivo. European Journal Of Neuroscience, S10, 21, 1998
Gigg, J., Finch, D.M., O'Mara, S.M., Convergent Responses Of Rat Subicular Complex Neurons To Stimulation Of CA1 And Entorhinal Cortex In Vivo. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 23, 1997, pp488
Model Learning And Memory Systems In Neurobiological Research: Conditioning And Associative Learning Procedures And Spatial Learning Paradigms in, editor(s)Lynch, M.A., O'Mara, S.M. , Neuroscience Labfax, London, Academic Press, 1997, [Hölscher, C., O'Mara, S.M.]
Preface in, first reprint of R.A.S. Macalister's Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum, Four Courts Press, 1996, [McManus D.]
Ellison, A., Walsh, V., O'Mara, S.M., Perceptual Learning In Visual Search. European Journal of Neuroscience, S9, 1996, pp106
O'Mara, S.M., Scannell, J.W., Burns, G., Young, M.W., A Topological Analysis Of The Connectivity Of The Hippocampal Formation. Proceedings Of The Brain Research Association, 11, 65. , 1994
O'Mara, S.M., Rowan, M., Anwyl, R., 1S-3R ACPD Can Cause Long-Term Depression And Depotentiation Of Synaptic Transmission In The Dentate Gyrus Of Rat Hippocampal Slices. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 20, 1994, pp1513
O'Mara, S.M., Rowan, M., Anwyl, R., Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Can Mediate Long-Term Depression Of Synaptic Transmission In The Dentate Gyrus Of Rat Hippocampal Slices Independently Of NMDA-Receptor Activation. Journal Of Physiology, 483, 1994, pp71 - 72
Research Expertise
Description
Research: My research concerns the brain systems supporting learning and memory, and how they are affected by stress and depression; to borrow a phrase, I am interested in understanding how `the brain meets the world". One major focus of my research are the cognitive and memory systems of the brain and how these are impacted by stress and depression. This work resulted in many publications, including a landmark paper (Aggleton and O"Mara, 2022) positing a `tripartite model" of the brain systems supporting episodic memory. My other major research focus concerns the behavioural and brain sciences and public policy. I have focused particularly on the neuroscience of torture, where I can apply my knowledge of brain, cognitive, and physiological function. This work started with a high-profile paper (O"Mara, 2009), which led to many interviews and press pieces. Many other papers followed, and a Harvard University Press monograph: Why Torture Doesn't Work: The Neuroscience of Interrogation, widely reviewed as a landmark work in torture by philosophers, lawyers, political scientists, and practitioners. It is cited in evidence in cases involving torture, most particular in Guantanamo Bay, and the Reports of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. Key Research Question: How does the brain change as a result of experience? To investigate this general problem, I have adopted multidisciplinary techniques from diverse disciplines (e.g. neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, behavioural analysis, neuroimmunology). Techniques routinely used in my research group include: in vivo neurophysiology in freely-moving/anaesthetised rat (field potentials/action potential recordings of single neurons/neuronal ensembles); neurobehavioural assays (automated water, radial, open field; object exploration, odour discrimination, etc.); brain protein assays (BDNF; prostaglandins); radioimmunoassays; neurohistology.Recognition
Representations
Major Conference Organization: The European Brain and Behaviour Society meeting Sept 2005. I was the Chair and Chief Organiser of this conference; I led the successful bid to bring this conference to Dublin and to have it hosted by the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience. This was a major international meeting of some 450 delegates.
Awards and Honours
FAPS
MRIA
Memberships
Association for Psychological Science; Society for Neuroscience; European Brain and Behaviour Society; Neuroscience Ireland