Willemieke M. Kouwenhoven

The paper identifies GluN2C NMDA receptors in the VTA as critical for relaying reward signals from DR stimulation, showing reduced reward with GluN2C downregulation and increased reward with NMDA antagonist.

The paper investigates somatodendritic dopamine release in mice, showing that synaptotagmin 4 and 7 are required for this process, while axonal release remains unaffected.

This study investigates the role of Vglut2 in dopamine neuron plasticity and post-lesional striatal reinnervation, finding that Vglut2 expression can be reactivated in adult neurons to support axonal recovery.