Denis Burdakov

Rules of disengagement: orexin-arousal and dopamine-utility as separable axes

The paper identifies two separable neurochemical axes—orexin-driven arousal and dopamine-mediated utility—that govern task engagement in mice, with implications for drug effects and motivation disorders.

A neural circuit for rapid control of hunger by arousal.

The paper identifies a neural circuit involving hypocretin/orexin neurons that rapidly suppresses hunger through a GABAergic relay, enabling dynamic regulation of hunger based on arousal.

Dissociable control of persistence and adaptive updating in reward-guided behavior

This study investigates how the MCH system influences persistence and adaptive updating in reward-guided behavior using touchscreen tasks in rodents.

Melanin-concentrating hormone signaling regulates persistence and updating of reward-guided actions

This study shows that MCH signaling influences how reward-guided behavior persists or updates when contingencies change, with MCHR1 blockade reducing perseveration and speeding adaptation.

Melanin-concentrating hormone signaling regulates prefrontal updating of learned avoidance

This study shows that blocking MCHR1 receptors in the prefrontal cortex helps mice stop responding to outdated warning signals while maintaining their ability to learn from danger.

Orexin population activity precisely reflects net body movement across behavioral and metabolic states

The paper identifies orexin/hypocretin neurons as precise encoders of net body movement across behaviors and metabolic states, independent of head movement and nutritional state.

Neurometabolic signaling and control of policy complexity

The paper investigates how hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurons regulate decision policy complexity through metabolic and neural signaling mechanisms in mice.

Transient targeting of hypothalamic orexin neurons alleviates seizures in a mouse model of epilepsy

This study identifies a link between hypothalamic orexin neuron activity and seizures in a mouse model and shows that targeting this activity with deep brain stimulation can reduce seizures.

Stimulation of VTA dopamine inputs to LH upregulates orexin neuronal activity in a DRD2-dependent manner

This study shows that dopamine release in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) increases orexin neuron activity through dopamine D2 receptors, revealing a new mechanism linking dopamine and reward expectation.

Exploratory rearing is governed by hypothalamic MCH cells according to the locus coeruleus

The paper identifies hypothalamic MCH cells as a neural module that tracks and controls exploratory rearing through interactions with locus coeruleus neurons.

A neuropsychological basis for temptation-resistant voluntary exercise

This study identifies hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurons as responsible for prioritizing exercise over temptations in mice.

Disentangling the role of NAc D1 and D2 cells in hedonic eating

This study investigates the roles of NAc D1 and D2 cells in hedonic eating by analyzing their contributions to liking and wanting, revealing distinct functions in food choice and overconsumption.

Control and coding of pupil size by hypothalamic orexin neurons

This study investigates the role of hypothalamic orexin neurons in controlling pupil size, linking their activity to arousal and reward states through specific stimulation and in vivo recordings.

A role for MCH neuron firing in hippocampal plasticity and learning

This study shows that MCH neuron activity modulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity and learning speed through optogenetic and in vivo experiments.

Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone neurons integrate food-motivated appetitive and consummatory processes

This study identifies hypothalamic MCH neurons that integrate food-related appetitive and consummatory processes through physiological and behavioral responses.

Orexin cells efficiently decode blood glucose dynamics to drive adaptive behavior

This study shows that orexin neurons decode blood glucose dynamics to drive adaptive behavior in mice by tracking glucose gradients and generating neural adaptations.

Do orexin/hypocretin neurons track sensory, cognitive, or motor information?

The paper investigates whether hypocretin/orexin neurons track sensory, cognitive, or motor information by analyzing their activity during sound cues and reward outcomes.

Rational inattention in mice

This study shows mice exhibit rational inattention by adaptively allocating sensory resources to maximize reward consumption while being imprecise for common stimuli.

Optogenetic Activation of Striatal D1/D2 Medium Spiny Neurons Differentially Engages Downstream Connected Areas Beyond the Basal Ganglia

This study uses optogenetics and fMRI to show that D1 and D2 MSNs in the striatum differentially activate brain regions beyond the basal ganglia, revealing complex functional interactions.

Ultra-sparse connectivity within the lateral hypothalamus

The paper investigates connectivity within the lateral hypothalamus and finds near-zero local connectivity and absence of local oscillations, suggesting integration occurs at the single-neuron level.

Natural hypothalamic circuit dynamics underlying object memorization

The paper identifies hypothalamic MCH neuron activity as critical for object memorization and shows that GAD65 neurons modulate this activity to control memory formation.

Rapid sensory integration in orexin neurons governs probability of future movements

This study shows orexin/hypocretin neurons rapidly control movement by integrating sensory input and initiating locomotion.

The Homeostatic Logic of Reward

The paper reviews theories of homeostatic control and evaluates their application to energy homeostasis, proposing a circuit that integrates physiological and behavioral regulation.