Michael E. Authement

Cholinergic-dependent dopamine signals in mouse dorsomedial striatum are regulated by frontal but not sensory cortices

The paper shows that visual stimuli evoke dopamine in the dorsomedial striatum via cholinergic-dependent mechanisms, driven by frontal cortices rather than sensory cortices.

A synaptic mechanism for encoding the learned value of action-derived safety

The paper identifies a thalamostriatal circuit mechanism by which internally constructed outcomes, like safety, acquire motivational value through synaptic plasticity in mice.

Brain insulin signaling restores deficits in striatal dopamine release in overweight male mice with preexisting low D2-receptor expression

This study shows that low striatal D2 receptor density in male mice predisposes to obesity-like traits through early dopaminergic dysfunction, which is later compensated by brain insulin hypersensitivity.

Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 limits dopamine D1 receptor signaling in the striatum and biases against heavy persistent alcohol drinking

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