Academic Information
M.A. 2000; Ph.D. 2003
Behavioural Neuroscience
Queen’s University

B.A. 1998
Psychology
McGill University

Research Interests
My research explores the functional consequences of re-programming of the neural system involved in stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Specifically, I am interested in how prenatal alcohol exposure influences neurobehavioural markers of addiction and depression, and whether these changes are dissociable by sex. 

Publications

• Robbins, T.W.R., Cardinal, R.N., DiCiano, P., Halligan, P.W., Hellemans, K.G.C., Lee, J.L., & Everitt, B.J. (2007) Neuroscience and drugs of addiction, in Drugs and the Future: Brain Science, Addiction, and Society. D Nutt, T Robbins, G Stimson, M Ince and A Jackson, eds. Elsevier Press (616 pp.). ..link on Amazon.com
• Hellemans, K.G.C., Everitt, B.J., and Lee, J.L.C. (2006) Disrupting reconsolidation of conditioned withdrawal memories in the basolateral amygdala reduces suppression of heroin seeking in rats. The Journal of Neuroscience, December 6, 2006, 26(49):12694-12699. ...abstract on PubMed
• Hellemans, K.G.C., Dickinson T., and Everitt, B.J. (2006) Motivational control of heroin seeking by conditioned stimuli associated with withdrawal and heroin taking by rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 120(1):103-114. ...abstract on PubMed.
• Olmstead, M.C., Hellemans, K.G.C, and Paine, T.A. (2006).  Alcohol-induced impulsivity: An effect of cue salience? Psychopharmacology, 184(2):221-228. ...abstract on PubMed.
• Hellemans, K.G.C., Nobrega, J.N., and Olmstead, M.C (2005).  Early environmental experience alters baseline and ethanol-induced cognitive impulsivity: Relationship to forebrain 5HT1A receptor binding. Behavioural Brain Research, 159(2):207-20. ...abstract on PubMed.
• Hellemans, K.G.C., Benge, L.C., and Olmstead, M.C. (2004), Adolescent enrichment partially reverses the social isolation syndrome. Developmental Brain Research 150(2):103-15. ...abstract on PubMed.
• Hellemans, K.G.C., Shaham, Y., and Olmstead, M.C. (2002), Effects of acute and chronic opiate abstinence on extinction behaviour in rats.  Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology. 56(4):241-52. ...abstract on PubMed.
• Abbott, F.V. and Hellemans, K.G.C. (2000), Phenacetin, acetaminophen and dipyrone: analgesic and rewarding effects. Behavioural Brain Research 112 (1-2): 177-186. ...abstract on PubMed.

Abstracts and Presentations

• Hellemans, K.G.C., Everitt, B.J., & Lee, J.L.C. (2006), Disrupting reconsolidation of conditioned withdrawal memories in the basolateral amygdala reduces suppression of heroin seeking in rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (Atlanta, GA, 36th Annual Meeting).
• Hellemans, K.G.C., Dickinson, T., & Everitt, B.J. (2005), Self-administration of heroin during conditioned withdrawal enhances subsequent heroin-seeking behaviour. European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (Barcelona, Spain).
• Hellemans, K.G.C. & Olmstead, M.C. (2004), Early environmental experience alters ethanol-induced cognitive impulsivity. European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (Rome, Italy).
• Hellemans, K.G.C. & Olmstead, M.C. (2002), Reversal of the social isolation syndrome – Neural and behavioural effects Human Frontiers Science Program Awardees Meeting  (Ottawa, ON).
• Olmstead, M.C., Darling, P.D., Hellemans, K.G.C., & Paine, T.A. (2002) Is alcohol-induced impulsivity related to myopia? Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science (Vancouver, BC).
• Olmstead, M.C., M.J. Shram & K.G.C. Hellemans (2001), Dissociable effects of opiates and stimulants on cue and place learning, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego, CA, 31st Annual Meeting).
• Hellemans, K.G.C., Benge, L.C., and Olmstead, M.C. (2001), Later enrichment reverses the social isolation syndrome, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego, CA, 31st Annual Meeting).
• M.C. Olmstead, M.J. Shram & K.G.C. Hellemans (2001), Dissociable effects of opiates and stimulants on cue and place learning, Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science (Quebec City, PQ).
• Hellemans, K.G.C. and Olmstead, M.C. (2000), Dissociable effects of acute and chronic opiate abstinence on drug-seeking and drug-taking, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (New Orleans, LA, 30th Annual Meeting).
• Hellemans, K.G.C. and Olmstead, M.C. (2000), Dissociable effects of acute and chronic opiate abstinence on drug-seeking and drug-taking, International Narcotics Research Conference (Seattle, WA).
• Hellemans, K.G.C. and Abbott, F.V.(1998), Reinforcing effects of dipyrone and phenacetin, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (Los Angeles, CA, 28th Annual Meeting).
• Abbott, F.V. and Hellemans, K.G.C.(1997), Comparison of peripheral and central analgesic actions of dipyrone and indomethacin in the formalin test, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (New Orleans, LA, 27th Annual Meeting).

Other Pursuits and Interests
When not in the lab, you can find me running the sea wall, spinning at the gym, hiking the trails, or skiing the slopes. I also bake a mean fudge brownie and enjoy cooking and hosting Nigella-inspired gourmet meals.

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