Tanner Chase Francis

This study shows that cue-dependent fear learning, not foot shock stress alone, drives synaptic plasticity in NAc D2-MSNs by increasing spine density.

The paper identifies a nucleus accumbens local circuit where excitatory plasticity and substance P release are essential for cue-dependent aversive learning and recall.

The paper investigates how TrkB deletion in D1-MSNs leads to stereotypy behavior and identifies molecular and morphological changes in these neurons.