Beatrice K. Leung

Distinct amygdala-striatal and amygdala-cortical circuits encode and retrieve predictive learning to guide choice and decision-making

This study identifies distinct neural circuits for encoding and retrieving predictive learning in decision-making, showing the BLA-IL-NAc-S circuit is required for retrieval while BLA-NAc-S is only needed for encoding.

Intratelencephalic neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex mediate the acquisition of goal-directed actions.

The paper identifies mPFC intratelencephalic neurons as critical for goal-directed learning through chemogenetic inhibition and synaptic plasticity analysis.

The influence of nucleus accumbens shell D1 and D2 neurons on outcome-specific Pavlovian instrumental transfer

This study investigates the role of D1 and D2 neurons in the nucleus accumbens shell in stimulus-based decision-making using optogenetics in rats.

High fat diet allows food-predictive stimuli to energize action performance in the absence of hunger, without distorting insulin signaling on accumbal cholinergic interneurons.

Cognitive effects of thalamostriatal degeneration are ameliorated by normalizing striatal cholinergic activity

The paper shows that thalamostriatal degeneration impairs goal-directed behavior in rats, but this deficit can be reversed by enhancing striatal cholinergic activity with selegiline.

Immp2l knockdown increases stimulus-driven instrumental behaviour but does not alter goal-directed learning or neuron density in cortico-striatal circuits in a mouse model of Tourette syndrome and autism spectrum disorder

This study investigates the effects of Immp2l knockdown in a mouse model of ASD and GTS, finding no impact on goal-directed learning or neuron density but increased stimulus-driven behaviour.