James M. Otis

This study shows prefrontal astrocytes encode reward contingencies and adapt to changes in reward associations, influencing conditioned behavior.

This paper develops a head-fixed ethanol self-administration model in mice, demonstrating reliable ethanol-seeking behavior and relapse-like reinstatement of lever pressing.

This study uses two-photon calcium imaging to analyze corticostriatal neuron activity in mice during heroin self-administration and relapse, identifying distinct neuronal ensembles and their role in drug-seeking behaviors.

This paper identifies nitrergic interneurons as key mediators of cue-induced synaptic plasticity in D1 MSNs required for cocaine seeking, showing that targeting nNOS or mGluR5 blocks relapse.

The paper identifies a specific subset of nucleus accumbens neurons targeted by prelimbic cortical input that mediate cue-induced cocaine relapse but not sucrose seeking.

The paper identifies specialized neuronal ensembles in the dmPFC that encode reward-related information during conditioning, showing differential emergence and stabilization across learning.

The paper identifies PnocBNST neurons in the BNST that encode rapid arousal responses to motivational stimuli and show distinct physiological and behavioral effects.

This paper describes a new experimental assay allowing mice to self-administer drugs while head-restrained, enabling simultaneous multiphoton imaging of neural activity during drug use and relapse.