Sarah Mondoloni

This study shows that the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) regulates nicotine reward by modulating VTA neuron activity through β4-containing nAChRs.

The paper shows dopamine stabilizes reward-related neural attractors and guides behavior by activating them online in mice.

The paper shows nicotine inhibits amygdala-projecting dopamine neurons via a VTA-NAc feedback loop, leading to anxiety.

The paper studies individual differences in reward-seeking behavior among isogenic mice in a social environment and links these differences to nicotine response and dopaminergic adaptability.

The paper investigates how mice generate self-initiated goal-directed choices through interactions between the ventral tegmental area, prefrontal cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex.

This study shows chronic nicotine exposure shifts decision-making strategies toward increased exploitation in a foraging task, with optogenetic manipulation of dopamine neurons replicating this effect.

This study identifies distinct dopamine circuits in the ventral tegmental area that mediate nicotine's reinforcing and anxiogenic effects through opposing responses in neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens and amygdala.

This study demonstrates that the GluD2 receptor functions as an ion channel using genetically-engineered photopharmacology, showing light-controlled modulation of its activity.

This study shows that somatic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in VTA dopamine neurons modulate firing properties and reward-related behaviors through optical manipulation.