Patricia H. Janak

Uncovering internal states with a robust shared-state multi-neuron GLM-HMM framework

This paper introduces a robust GLM-HMM framework for analyzing neural data to uncover latent internal states and their relationship to behavior.

Transcriptional response to chronic long-access fentanyl self-administration in rat habenula and amygdala

This study identifies transcriptomic changes in rat habenula and amygdala after chronic fentanyl self-administration, linking them to human cell types and risk genes for addiction.

The Central Nucleus of the Amygdala Encodes the Motivation to Pursue Ethanol

This study investigates how CeA neurons encode motivation for ethanol and natural rewards, finding that neural responses to cues predict engagement and action vigor.

Memory erasure by dopamine-gated retrospective learning

This paper shows that presenting outcomes without cues (retrospective extinction) can erase memories, unlike standard extinction protocols that present cues without outcomes.

Uncertainty and reward histories have distinct effects on decisions after wins and losses

In 14 rats doing probabilistic reversal learning, model-derived uncertainty (unsigned average prediction error) and recency-weighted reward history distinctly and sex-specifically shaped win-stay versus lose-shift choices.

Fentanyl reinforcement history has sex-specific effects on multi-step decision-making

This study shows chronic fentanyl reinforcement promotes habit formation in rats, with sex-specific effects on decision-making and perseveration during reward seeking.

Optogenetic Central Amygdala Stimulation is Highly Reinforcing and Strongly Outcompetes Fentanyl Self-Administration in Male, but not Female, Rats

Pavlovian cue-evoked alcohol seeking is disrupted by ventral pallidal inhibition

This study shows that inhibiting the ventral pallidum during alcohol cues reduces Pavlovian alcohol-seeking behavior in rats.

Sequence termination cues drive habits via dopamine-mediated credit assignment

This study shows that sequence termination cues, via dopamine signaling, drive habitual behavior by enhancing automaticity and reducing behavioral flexibility.

Mesostriatal dopamine is sensitive to specific cue-reward contingencies

This study shows that mesostriatal dopamine responses change when specific cue-reward contingencies are altered, suggesting dopamine encodes event relationships during learning.

Encoding and context-dependent control of reward consumption within the central nucleus of the amygdala

This study investigates how the central amygdala encodes and controls reward consumption in rats, showing that optogenetic stimulation enhances intake of preferred rewards but not less-preferred ones.

Chronic Ethanol Exposure Produces Persistent Impairment in Cognitive Flexibility and Decision Signals in the Striatum

This study shows chronic ethanol exposure impairs cognitive flexibility and striatal decision signals in male rats, with specific changes in neural representations of actions and outcomes.

Pramipexole restores behavioral inhibition in highly impulsive rats through a paradoxical modulation of frontostriatal networks

This study shows pramipexole reduces impulsivity in highly impulsive rats by modulating frontostriatal networks, specifically through Zif268 mRNA downregulation in the nucleus accumbens core.

Basolateral amygdala population coding of a cued reward seeking state depends on orbitofrontal cortex

The paper shows that sustained BLA neuronal activity during reward seeking depends on OFC input and is reduced when OFC is inactivated or optogenetically disrupted.

Nucleus accumbens and dorsal medial striatal dopamine and neural activity are essential for action sequence performance

This study investigates the role of dopamine and neural activity in the nucleus accumbens and dorsomedial striatum in action sequence performance, finding that these regions are critical for timing and motivation in both cued and uncued tasks.

Contexts facilitate dynamic value encoding in the mesolimbic dopamine system

This study investigates how dopamine neurons in the mesolimbic system enable rapid revaluation of reward cues in changing environments using behavioral and neurophysiological methods in rats.

From Prediction to Action: Dissociable Roles of Ventral Tegmental Area and Substantia Nigra Dopamine Neurons in Instrumental Reinforcement

This study identifies distinct roles of VTA and SNc dopamine neurons in instrumental learning through behavioral tasks and optogenetic manipulations, showing they support different reinforcement mechanisms.

Basolateral amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex, but not dorsal hippocampus, are necessary for the control of reward-seeking by occasion setters

This study identifies the basolateral amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex as necessary for reward-seeking guided by occasion setters, while the dorsal hippocampus is not involved.

Unveiling the neural correlates of habit in the dorsal striatum

The paper investigates neural activity patterns in the dorsal striatum during habit and goal-directed behavior, finding sustained excitation in DLS and inhibition in DMS for habit.

A history-derived reward prediction error signal in ventral pallidum

This study identifies RPE signals in the ventral pallidum that predict task engagement and influence reward-seeking behavior in rats.

Recruitment and disruption of value encoding during alcohol seeking

This study examines how neural encoding of cue value in the ventral pallidum differs between Pavlovian and instrumental training in rats, and how alcohol exposure affects these representations.

Phasic Activation of Ventral Tegmental, but not Substantia Nigra, Dopamine Neurons Promotes Model-Based Pavlovian Reward Learning

This study shows that VTA dopamine neuron activation supports model-based reward learning, while SNc dopamine neuron activation only reinforces instrumental responses.

Setting the occasion for incentive motivation: implications for addiction

This study investigates how context influences reward-seeking behavior in rats, finding that occasion setters generate appetitive motivation independent of their predictive value.

Instantiation of incentive value and movement invigoration by distinct midbrain dopamine circuits

This study shows that distinct midbrain dopamine circuits generate incentive value and movement invigoration through functionally heterogeneous signals during Pavlovian conditioning.

Long-Lasting Contribution Of Dopamine In The Nucleus Accumbens Core, But Not Dorsal Lateral Striatum, To Sign-Tracking

The study shows that dopamine in the nucleus accumbens core, but not the dorsal lateral striatum, is essential for sign-tracking behavior, even after extended training.