Chunyang Dong

Human organoid screen links transient translational modulation to progenitor progression in corticogenesis

The paper screens human cortical organoids with small molecules to identify translational modulators affecting progenitor progression in corticogenesis, finding Emetine promotes neuronal differentiation.

Human neuromodulatory assembloids to study serotonin signaling and disease

This study creates human neuromodulatory assembloids to investigate serotonin signaling and disease mechanisms, showing altered 5-HT dynamics in 22q11.2DS and rescue with SSRIs.

Top-down control of the descending pain modulatory system drives placebo analgesia

This study identifies the neural circuits underlying placebo analgesia, showing that cortical control of the descending pain modulatory system (DPMS) drives pain suppression through endogenous opioid signaling in the periaqueductal gray.

Dynorphin modulates motivation through a pallido-amygdala cholinergic circuit

This study shows dynorphin modulates motivation via a pallido-amygdala cholinergic circuit by both disinhibiting and autoinhibiting cholinergic transmission in mice.

Endogenous opioid dynamics in the dorsal striatum sculpt neural activity to control goal-directed action

This study identifies the role of endogenous dynorphin release in the dorsal striatum in regulating goal-directed behavior through retrograde GPCR inhibition.

Prefrontal cortical dynorphin peptidergic transmission constrains threat-driven behavioral and network states

The paper shows that vmPFC Dyn neurons suppress defensive behaviors by releasing dynorphin in response to threats and promoting fear-related network states.