Mitchell R. Farrell

This study inhibits VP GABA neurons and finds it increases context-appropriate defensive responses to learned threat cues without affecting memory formation.

This study shows that ventral pallidum GABA neurons bidirectionally control opioid relapse in rats, depending on the behavioral context and type of abstinence.

This study shows that VPGABA neurons in rats influence risky decision-making by modulating motivation to pursue rewards and avoid shocks.

This study shows that ventral pallidum inhibition reduces cocaine reinstatement after voluntary abstinence, particularly in compulsive rats, suggesting its role in relapse.

The paper develops new DREADD agonists and a PET radiotracer for improved neuronal activity manipulation and noninvasive projection mapping in neurotheranostics.