Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Electrophysiological Correlates of Reward Processing in the Human Ventral Tegmental Area

The paper uses intracranial recordings from patients with chronic cluster headache to show that the human VTA encodes reward-related signals during learning.

Impact of Sex on Heroin Intravenous Self-Administration by Heterogeneous Stock Rats

This study finds that female Heterogeneous Stock rats self-administer opioids more frequently than males in various conditions, while males show greater sensitivity to heroin's anti-nociceptive effects.

Inherited input and local transformations shape the spatiotemporal organization of pathway specific striatal signals for motivated behavior

The paper shows how striatal signals for motivated behavior are organized through inherited input and local transformations in mice.

Reduced Prefrontal PRDM2 Promotes Stress-Induced Alcohol Reinstatement Across Sexes through a dmPFC-Nucleus Accumbens Pathway

This study shows reduced PRDM2 in the prefrontal cortex increases stress-induced alcohol seeking in both sexes via a dmPFC-NAc pathway.

Multiplexed dopamine neurons predominate in the ventral midbrain of young macaques

The paper examines dopamine neuron transmitter properties in young macaques, finding that most dopamine neurons express multiple transmitters.

ANKS1B in the Nucleus Accumbens controls escalated cocaine self-administration via regulating CBP-FoxO3 complex

This study identifies ANKS1B's role in cocaine escalation by regulating the CBP-FoxO3 complex in the nucleus accumbens, offering a potential therapeutic target for cocaine use disorder.

Characterization of neuronal ensembles in a model of dual reward conditioned place preference

The paper characterizes neuronal ensembles associated with cocaine and chocolate in a dual reward conditioned place preference model and finds that ensemble sizes are comparable across single and dual reward conditions.

Uncovering phenotypic diversity and cell-type-specific prefrontal cortex calcium dynamics in rat fentanyl self-administration

The paper investigates phenotypic diversity and cell-type-specific calcium dynamics in rat fentanyl self-administration, identifying sex differences and addiction risk phenotypes.

A distinct adolescent profile for activity and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens during Pavlovian conditioning

The paper investigates age-related differences in neural activity and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens during Pavlovian conditioning in adolescent and adult rats, finding reduced sensitivity to reward cues in adolescents.

Local control of dopamine release in nucleus accumbens gates opioid withdrawal aversion

The paper identifies Tshz1 neurons in the nucleus accumbens as critical for withdrawal aversion by modulating dopamine release and mGluR8 activity, offering a new therapeutic target for opioid use disorder.

Activation of mGlu2 receptors reverses persistent post-methamphetamine deficit in object-in-place recognition memory.

This study shows that mGlu2 receptor activation can reverse memory deficits caused by chronic methamphetamine use in rats, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target.

Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons Signal Aversion and Drive Avoidance

This study shows striatal cholinergic interneurons signal aversion and drive avoidance by responding more strongly to negative cues during learning.

Distinct ensembles in the prelimbic cortex track different measures of motivation for cocaine and water reinforcers.

The paper identifies distinct neural ensembles in the prelimbic cortex that track different aspects of motivation for cocaine and water reinforcers across various tasks.

Ventral Pallidum Cholinergic Neurons Respond to Reward and Signal Reward Value

This study identifies VP cholinergic neurons as a distinct population whose activity is sensitive to reward palatability and physiological state during reward behavior.

Thalamus orchestrates local acetylcholine-dependent dopamine release in the learning striatum

The paper shows that thalamic input drives acetylcholine-dependent dopamine release in the dorsomedial striatum during learning, but not in the dorsolateral striatum.

Mu-opioid receptor expression across cell-type specific afferents to the ventral tegmental area in male mice.

The paper examines mu-opioid receptor (MOR) expression in VTA-projecting afferents in male mice, finding higher MOR levels in GABAergic compared to non-GABAergic afferents.

Cognitive engagement induces area-specific fingerprints of dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, glutamate and GABA in prefrontal cortex and striatum

The paper examines how cognitive engagement alters neurochemical profiles in the prefrontal cortex and striatum of nonhuman primates, identifying area-specific changes in dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, glutamate, and GABA.

The recreational-to-habitual shift in psychostimulant use is an economic demand parameter that is unrelated to drug consumption levels (under normal and punishment conditions).

The study develops a behavioral economic model to assess the recreational-to-habitual shift in drug use and finds it is unrelated to drug intake under normal and punishment conditions.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide, attenuates intravenous self-administration of fentanyl in female rats

This study shows semaglutide reduces fentanyl self-administration and withdrawal-like behavior in female rats, suggesting its potential as a treatment for opioid use disorder.

Colocalization of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors with neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the rat paraventricular nucleus: a structural basis for dopaminergic/nitrergic interaction

The paper examines the colocalization of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors with neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the rat paraventricular nucleus, finding that 45% of nNOS-positive neurons express dopaminergic receptors.

Region-specific cortico-striatal transcriptomic remodeling following early postnatal dopaminergic disturbance

This study identifies region-specific transcriptomic changes in the prefrontal cortex and striatum of mice with early postnatal dopaminergic disturbance using bulk RNA-seq and WGCNA.

Contingency degradation overwrites initial learning and depends on lateral orbitofrontal cortex

The paper shows that non-contingent outcome delivery reduces responding in rats without recovery, and this effect depends on the lateral orbitofrontal cortex.

Error-driven representation learning in the mesolimbic system

The paper shows that striatal activity changes in a way consistent with dopamine-driven representation learning during reinforcement learning tasks.

Astrocytic D1 Dopamine-Signaling Regulates Synaptic Remodeling and Cocaine Seeking

This study shows that astrocytic D1 dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell regulate synaptic remodeling and cocaine seeking behavior in mice.

The Lateral Habenula to Ventral Tegmental Area Pathway is Required for Aversive Learning and Defensive Behaviors

This study identifies the LHb[->]VTA pathway as essential for aversive learning and active coping by showing its role in signaling aversive stimuli and facilitating behavioral adaptation.

Genetic Architecture of Addiction-Relevant Behaviors in Outbred Sprague-Dawley Rats Reveals Loci for Anxiety-Like and Nociceptive Traits

The paper identifies genetic loci associated with anxiety-like and nociceptive traits in outbred Sprague-Dawley rats using genome-wide association analysis.

The Central Nucleus of the Amygdala Encodes the Motivation to Pursue Ethanol

This study investigates how CeA neurons encode motivation for ethanol and natural rewards, finding that neural responses to cues predict engagement and action vigor.

Demonstrating the ability of GABAergic cells in the zona incerta to modulate motivation

This study shows that GABAergic cells in the zona incerta modulate motivation by responding to sensory cues and enhancing cue-associated behavior, without affecting other functions.

Chemogenetic Inhibition of the Cortical Amygdala Reduces Alcohol Intake and Restores Thalamic Connectivity in Dependent Female Mice

This study shows that inhibiting the cortical amygdala reduces alcohol intake in dependent mice and restores thalamic connectivity during withdrawal.

What a stimulus predicts, not what it depicts, determines striatal reward signals

This study shows that striatal reward signals are driven by what a stimulus predicts, not its emotional content or visual features, using an fMRI paradigm with food cues and emotional images.