Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

The paper identifies two BLA subprojections to NAc that differentially encode reward and cue-mediated reinforcement in drug seeking behavior.

This study shows that optogenetic inhibition of the caudal substantia nigra increases defensive responding to uncertain and safe cues in rats.

The paper shows how early-life stress and ovarian hormones affect transcriptional regulation in the nucleus accumbens, leading to sex-specific responses to cocaine in mice.

The paper uses two-photon calcium imaging to show that mesocortical dopamine axons in the medial PFC exhibit selectivity for aversive cues during classical conditioning.

This paper introduces a salience-based model of reward prediction errors that simulates addictive behaviors, including reduced sensitivity to negative consequences and steeper delay discounting.

The paper evaluates dLight photometry for measuring dopamine dynamics in the dorsolateral striatum, showing it can detect dopamine increases and transient kinetics during cocaine exposure and conditioning.

The paper shows that inhibiting VTA dopamine neurons during reward cue presentation prevents sign-tracking behavior, confirming dopamine's role in encoding incentive value.

This study shows that dopamine neuron sensitization interacts with win-paired cues to differentially affect risk-taking and cocaine self-administration in male and female rats.

This study shows that LRRK2 in D1R-expressing striatal neurons reduces alcohol drinking by modulating D1R signaling and resilience to heavy drinking.

The paper identifies dysregulated proteins in the orbitofrontal cortex of individuals with alcohol use disorder using proteomics and machine learning, linking them to drinking behavior in mice.

This study examines how MCH receptor antagonism affects nicotine-induced locomotor behavior in male and female rats, finding sex-specific differences in sensitivity to the antagonist.

The paper shows dopamine signals in rats update value through two learning processes during foraging in a complex environment.

This study shows that nucleus accumbens acetylcholine receptors differentially regulate flexibility and persistence in sign-tracking behavior without affecting cue motivational value.

This study shows that Kv4.3 and BKCa1.1 ion channels regulate dopamine neuron firing and release on different time scales, influencing distinct phases of reinforced behavior in mice.

The paper introduces OHRBETS, an open-source platform for head-fixed behavioral experiments in mice, demonstrating operant conditioning and dopamine signaling during reward tasks.

The paper identifies three genetic dopamine subtypes in the substantia nigra pars compacta, each with distinct functional responses to rewards, aversive stimuli, and movement, showing strong correlation between soma and axon signaling within subtypes.

This study compares two DREADD agonists, CNO and J60, on operant behavior in rats with VTA dopamine neuron inhibition, finding J60 has non-specific effects while CNO is more specific.

The paper shows that dopamine release during predicted aversive outcomes controls learned behavior and is linked to the saliency of these events.

This study identifies neural mechanisms for uninstructed orofacial movements during reward-based learning in mice, showing distinct roles of dopamine and motor cortex circuits.

This study shows that gut microbiome depletion increases cocaine-seeking behavior in rats, which can be reversed by replenishing short-chain fatty acids.

This study identifies specific projection targets of VTA Sst neurons and shows their role in stress-related behaviors and drug responses.

The paper shows that boosting serotonin reduces sensitivity to cognitive effort during information gathering, increasing willingness to gather information for reward.

The paper shows that maternal separation in C3H/HeN mice increases motivation for palatable food and alters nucleus accumbens gene expression, while C57Bl/6J mice show no such changes.

The paper shows that activating CRF+ neurons in the aBNST reduces effortful motivation behaviors in mice during reward tasks.

The paper investigates the neural mechanisms of antipsychotic drugs by comparing their effects on D1- and D2-receptor-expressing spiny-projection neurons in mice, finding that modulating D1-SPNs correlates with therapeutic efficacy.

This study shows that amphetamine exposure in adolescence causes sex-specific changes in dopamine axon growth via Netrin-1/DCC signaling, with male mice showing increased vulnerability.

The paper identifies a mu-opioid receptor gated circuit from VTA glutamate neurons to dopamine neurons that regulates opioid-seeking behavior.

This study investigates the roles of NAc D1 and D2 cells in hedonic eating by analyzing their contributions to liking and wanting, revealing distinct functions in food choice and overconsumption.

This study examines sex and estrous cycle effects on oxycodone self-administration and reinstatement in rats, finding no sex differences but estrous cycle-dependent changes in reinforcing efficacy in females.