Topic: psychological disorders

A common trait of psychological disorders is an impairment in executing appropriate action under conflicting motivations. Indeed, balancing reward and risk is a fundamental brain process essential for survival. The brain assigns positive or negative value to external stimuli, facilitating approach or avoidance behaviors, respectively. Thus, dissecting the brain circuitry that controls these processes is essential towards a better understanding of brain function and the pathological processes in mental health. The laterodorsal tegmental area (LDTg) is a heterogeneous brain region which modulate