Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and Therapeutics
I have been involved in neuroscience research using rats and mice looking at a number of brain structures (basal forebrain and medial temporal lobe) and neurochemical systems, and their roles in learning, memory, attention and anxiety.
I am the author of the object novelty recognition test that is widely used in academia and in the industry. I also developed other behavioural tests that can be used for measuring visual discrimination and delayed non-match-to-sample, spatial navigation (3D maze) and anxiety response (3D maze and 3D open-field).
I am currently working on a project looking at clinical diagnostic methodology in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Teaching and supervision
- Brain structures and functions
Level 3:
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Drug abuse and addictions
- Pain and analgesia
- Sleep and insomnia
- Anesthesia
Research interests for potential research students
Research
- Research methodologies in basic and clinical studies of neurological and psychiatric disorders
- The hippocampus and substructures in 3 dimensional spatial navigation environment
- Brain structures and functions in anxiety and its disorders
- Ageing and neurodegeneration, haemorrhage, cerebrovascular diseases, vascular dementia
Publications
Article
Alrashdi, Ibrahim, Alsubaiyel, Amal, Chan, Michelle, Battell, Emma E., Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Nunn, Miles A., Weston-Davies, Wayne, Chazot, Paul and Obara, Ilona (2022) Votucalis, a Novel Centrally Sparing Histamine-Binding Protein, Attenuates Histaminergic Itch and Neuropathic Pain in Mice. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13.
Dougal, Gordon, Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Chazot, Paul (2021) Effect of transcranial near infrared light 1068 nm upon memory performance in ageing healthy individuals: a pilot study. Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery. ISSN 1549-5418
Williams, Stevenson, Yoshiki, Hase, Elle, Wilson, Annabel, Hollins, Mai, Hase, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Craggs, Lucy, Ihara, Masafumi, Horsburgh, Karen and Kalaria, Raj N (2020) Long-Term Effects of Experimental Carotid Stenosis on Hippocampal Infarct Pathology, Neurons and Glia and Amelioration by Environmental Enrichment. Brain Research Bulletin, 163. pp. 72-83. ISSN 0361-9230
Hase, Yoshiki, Polvikoski, Tuomo M., Ihara, Masafumi, Hase, Mai, Zafar, Rayyan, Stevenson, William, Allan, Louise M., Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Horsburgh, Karen, Gallart‐Palau, Xavier, Siu, Kwan Sze and Kalaria, Raj N (2019) Carotid Artery Disease in Post-Stroke Survivors and Effects of Enriched Environment on Stroke Pathology in a Mouse Model of Carotid Artery Stenosis. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 45 (7). pp. 681-697. ISSN 1365-2990
Hase, Yoshiki, Craggs, Lucinda, Hase, Mai, Stevenson, William, Slade, Janet, Chen, Aiqing, Liang, Di, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Oakley, Arthur, Ihara, Masafumi, Horsburgh, Karen and Kalaria, Raj N (2018) The effects of environmental enrichment on white matter pathology in a mouse model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 38 (1). pp. 151-165. ISSN 0271-678X
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Hussain, Muhammed, Abuhamdah, Rushdie and Chazot, Paul (2017) Slope climbing challenges, fear of heights, anxiety and time of the day. Behavioural brain research, 316. pp. 169-182. ISSN 0166-4328
Abuhamdah, R.M., Hussain, Muhammed, Paul, Chazot and Ennaceur, Abdelkader (2016) Pre-training in a radial arm maze abolished anxiety and impaired habituation in C57BL6/J mice treated with dizocilpine. Physiology and Behavior, 164. pp. 353-360. ISSN 0031-9384
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Chazot, Paul (2016) Preclinical animal anxiety research – flaws and prejudices. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 2 (4). ISSN 2052-1707
Sasaki, Toshihiro, Hoffmann, Ulrike, Kobayashi, Motomu, Sheng, Huaxin, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Lombard, Frederick W. and Warner, David S. (2016) Long-Term Cognitive Deficits After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats. Neurocritical Care, 25. pp. 293-305. ISSN 1541-6933
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Hussain, Muhammed Dilwar (2015) Effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment on anxious behaviour of BALB/c mice in a 3-dimensional maze. Stress. pp. 1-9. ISSN 1025-3890
Abuhamdah, S, Abuhamdah, Rushdie, Howes, Melanie-Jayne R., Al-Olimat, Suleiman, Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Chazot, Paul (2015) Pharmacological and neuroprotective profile of an essential oil derived from leaves of Aloysia citrodora Palau. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 67 (9). pp. 1306-1315. ISSN 2042-7158
Abuhamdah, S, Abuhamdah, R, Howes, M J, Al-Khali, S, Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Chazot, P (2015) Pharmacological profile of an essential oil derived from leaves of lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora Palau): cholinergic, anti-oxidant and iron chelation properties. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. ISSN 2042-7158
Ennaceur, Abdelkader (2014) Tests of unconditioned anxiety — Pitfalls and disappointments. Physiology & Behavior, 135. pp. 55-71. ISSN 0031-9384
Mahita, Mwajuma, Abuhamdah, Rushdie, Howes, Melanie-Jayne, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Abuhamdah, S and Chazot, Paul (2014) Identification of a Novel GABAA Receptor Channel Ligand Derived from Melissa officinalis and Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oils. European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 4 (7). pp. 810-818. ISSN 2231-0894
Abuhamdah, Rushdie M., van Rensburg, Ruan, Lethbridge, Natasha L., Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Chazot, Paul L. (2012) Effects of methimepip and JNJ-5207852 in Wistar rats exposed to an open-field with and without object and in Balb/c mice exposed to a radial-arm maze. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 6. ISSN 1662-5137
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona, van Rensburg, Ruan and Chazot, P L (2011) MK-801 increases the baseline level of anxiety in mice introduced to a spatial memory task without prior habituation. Neuropharmacology, 61 (5-6). pp. 981-91. ISSN 0028-3908
Ennaceur, Abdelkader (2011) Omission of the habituation procedure in the acquisition of a working memory task - evidence from Balb/c, C57/BL6J, and CD-1 mice. Behavioural brain research, 223 (1). pp. 203-10. ISSN 1872-7549
Ennaceur, Abdelkader (2010) One-trial object recognition in rats and mice: methodological and theoretical issues. Behavioural brain research, 215 (2). pp. 244-54. ISSN 1872-7549
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona, van Rensburg, Ruan and Chazot, P L (2010) Tolerance, sensitization and dependence to diazepam in Balb/c mice exposed to a novel open space anxiety test. Behavioural brain research, 209 (1). pp. 154-164. ISSN 1872-7549
Michalikova, Simona, van Rensburg, Ruan, Chazot, P L and Ennaceur, Abdelkader (2010) Anxiety responses in Balb/c, c57 and CD-1 mice exposed to a novel open space test. Behavioural brain research, 207 (2). pp. 402-17. ISSN 1872-7549
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona, van Rensburg, Ruan and Chazot, P L (2010) Distinguishing anxiolysis and hyperactivity in an open space behavioural test. Behavioural Brain Research, 207 (1). pp. 84-98. ISSN 0166-4328
van Rensburg, Ruan, Errington, D R, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Lees, G, Obrenovitch, T P and Chazot, P L (2009) A new model for the study of high-K(+)-induced preconditioning in cultured neurones: role of N-methyl-d-aspartate and alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Journal of neuroscience methods, 177 (2). pp. 311-6. ISSN 0165-0270
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona and Chazot, Paul (2009) Do rats really express neophobia towards novel objects? Experimental evidence from exposure to novelty and to an object recognition task in an open space and an enclosed space. Behavioural brain research, 197 (2). pp. 417-34. ISSN 1872-7549
Michalikova, Simona, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, van Rensburg, Ruan and Chazot, P L (2008) Emotional responses and memory performance of middle-aged CD1 mice in a 3D maze: effects of low infrared light. Neurobiology of learning and memory, 89 (4). pp. 480-8. ISSN 1095-9564
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona, van Rensburg, Ruan and Chazot, P L (2008) Are benzodiazepines really anxiolytic? Evidence from a 3D maze spatial navigation task. Behavioural brain research, 188 (1). pp. 136-53. ISSN 0166-4328
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona, van Rensburg, Ruan and Chazot, P L (2008) Detailed analysis of the behavior and memory performance of middle-aged male and female CD-1 mice in a 3D maze. Behavioural brain research, 187 (2). pp. 312-26. ISSN 0166-4328
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona, van Rensburg, Ruan and Chazot, P L (2006) Models of Anxiety: Responses of Mice to Novelty and Open Spaces in a 3D Maze. Behavioural Brain Research, 174 (1). pp. 9-38. ISSN 01664328
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona and Chazot, P L (2006) Models of anxiety: Responses of rats to novelty in an open space and an enclosed space. Behavioural Brain Research, 171 (1). pp. 26-49. ISSN 01664328
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Michalikova, Simona, Bradford, Andrea and Ahmed, Samrah (2005) Detailed analysis of the behavior of lister and wistar rats in anxiety, object recognition and object location tasks. Behavioural Brain Research, 159 (2). pp. 247-266. ISSN 01664328
Gartlon, J, Szekeres, P, Pullen, M, Sarau, HM, Aiyar, N, Shabon, U, Michalovich, D, Steplewski, K, Ellis, C, Elshourbagy, N, Duxon, M, Ashmeade, TE, Harrison, DC, Murdock, P, Wilson, S, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Atkins, A, Heidbreder, C, Hagan, JJ, Hunter, AJ and Jones, DNC (2004) Localisation of NMU1R and NMU2R in human and rat central nervous system and effects of neuromedin-U following central administration in rats. Psychopharmacology, 177. pp. 1-14. ISSN 0033-3158
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Mostafa, Randa (2002) A 3D SPATIAL NAVIGATION TASK FOR ASSESSING MEMORY IN RODENTS. Neuroscience Research Communications, 31 (1). pp. 19-28. ISSN 1520-6769
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Mostafa, Randa and Mostafa, Y M (2002) Effects of exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic field of 2 G intensity on memory and corticosterone level in rats. Physiology & Behavior, 76 (4-5). pp. 589-595. ISSN 00319384
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Aggleton, John P. (1998) Analysis of the automated delayed nonmatching-to-position task: The effects of changing contiguity between stimulus, response and reinforcement, and of providing a salient spatial cue within the apparatus. Neurosci. Res. Comm., 22 (1). pp. 21-29. ISSN 1520-6769
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Aggleton, John P. (1998) An attempt to overcome the problem of motor mediation by rats in the delayed non matching-to-position task. Neuroscience Research Communications, 22 (3). pp. 153-162. ISSN 1520-6769
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Aggleton, John P. and Fray, Paul (1997) Delayed non matching to sample in a novel automated visual memory apparatus using mixed retention intervals. Neuroscience Research Communications, 20 (2). pp. 103-111. ISSN 1520-6769
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Neave, Nick and Aggleton, John P. (1997) Spontaneous object recognition and object location memory in rats: the effects of lesions in the cingulate cortices, the medial prefrontal cortex, the cingulum bundle and the fornix. Experimental Brain Research, 113 (3). pp. 509-519. ISSN 0014-4819
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Aggleton, John P. (1994) Spontaneous recognition of object configurations in rats: effects of fornix lesions. Experimental Brain Research, 100 (1). pp. 85-92. ISSN 0014-4819
Ennaceur, Abdelkader (1994) Effects of amphetamine and medial septal lesions on acquisition and retention of radial maze learning in rats. Brain Research, 636 (2). pp. 277-285. ISSN 0006-8993
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Meliani, Kamel (1992) Effects of physostigmine and scopolamine on rats' performances in object-recognition and radial-maze tests. Psychopharmacology, 109 (3). pp. 321-330. ISSN 0033-3158
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Meliani, Kamel (1992) A new one-trial test for neurobiological studies of memory in rats. III. Spatial vs. non-spatial working memory. Behav Brain Res., 51 (1). pp. 83-92. ISSN 0166-4328
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Cavoy, Albert, Costa, Jean-Claude and Delacour, Jean P. (1989) A new one-trial test for neurobiological studies of memory in rats. II: Effects of piracetam and pramiracetam. Behav Brain Res., 33 (2). pp. 197-207. ISSN 0166-4328
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Delacour, Jean (1988) A new one-trial test for neurobiological studies of memory in rats. 1: Behavioral data. Behavioural Brain Research, 31 (1). pp. 47-59. ISSN 0166-4328
Cavoy, Albert, Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Delacour, J (1988) Effect of piracetam on learned helplessness. Physiology & Behavior, 42 (6). pp. 545-549. ISSN 0031-9384
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and Delacour, Jean P. (1987) Effect of combined or separate administration of piracetam and choline on learning and memory in the rat. Psychopharmacology, 92 (1). pp. 58-67. ISSN 0033-3158
Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Coulon, JF, Delacour, Jean and David, Jean Claude (1986) High sensitivity of brain octopamine levels to stress. Psychopharmacology, 88 (3). pp. 305-309. ISSN 0033-3158
Book Section
Ennaceur, Abdelkader (2018) Chapter 1 - Object Novelty Recognition Memory. In: Handbook of Object Novelty Recognition. Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience, 27 . Academic Press, pp. 1-22. ISBN 9780128120125
Ennaceur, Abdelkader and de Souza Silva, Maria A. (2018) Preface - Handbook of Object Novelty Recognition. In: Handbook of Object Novelty Recognition. Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience, 27 . Academic Press, XV-XVI. ISBN 978-0-12-812012-5
Ennaceur, Abdelkader (2012) Open space anxiety in rodents: the elevated platform with steep slopes. In: Psychiatric Disorders: Methods and Protocols. Methods in molecular biology (829 n2). Springer, pp. 177-191. ISBN 978-1-61779-457-5
Conference or Workshop Item
Khan, Faraz Ahmed, Xia, Tiancheng, Chazot, Paul L, Ennaceur, Abdelkader, Bouridane, Ahmed and Jiang, Richard (2019) Computer-Aided Automated Detection of Gene-Controlled Social Actions of Drosophila. In: International Conference on Smart Cities, 27-28 June 2018, Cambridge, UK.
- Neuroscience
- Neuropharmacology
- Psychopharmacology
- Neurophysiology
- Clinical psychology