Topic: D1-MSNs

Time represents a fundamental dimension around which all behaviors must be organized. Previous work has shown that dorsal striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) encode prospective time via ‘ramping’, progressive linear increases or decreases in firing rate preceding a time at which an animal must act (Emmons et al., 2017; Matell et al., 2003). Furthermore, disruptions to dopamine signaling attenuate this pattern of activity and can bidirectionally modulate performance of timed behaviors (Parker et al., 2015; Soares et al., 2016). Dopamine binds to both D1- and D2-MSNs which play orthogonal role

Accumulating evidence shows that dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are crucial for rewarding and aversive responses. The activity of these neurons is intricately regulated by various neuropeptides, one of which is the endogenous opioid dynorphin. It is thought that the main source of dynorphin in the VTA arises from nucleus accumbens (NAc) D1-MSNs, and that dynorphin acts primarily on kappa opioid receptors (KORs), serving as negative feedback mechanism to modulate dopamine release. Thus, dynorphin signals may regulate dopamine dynamics and, in this way, contribute for r

Obesity is driven and maintained by dysregulation of appetite. Especially nowadays, with rich availability of palatable processed food, overeating promotes weight gain through unbalancing energy expenditure and intake. Lifestyle interventions are foundation of obesity management; however, the long-term maintenance is challenging. Thus, understanding the neural mechanism underlying compulsive overeating is urgent for better weight control. Dopamine system and hypothalamus are highly involved in obesity, proved by fMRI in patients. In mice, our lab discovered that a specific subset of nucleus ac