Research

Motivated behaviours are guided by complex interactions between several brain areas, but many of these connections are not defined or understood. We use anatomical, optogenetic, and electrophysiological techniques to identify and characterize cell type and pathway specific connections in the mouse brain, and how these connections are changed by lived experience.

Layered on top of the complexity of neural circuit connections is the effect of neuromodulators, which can act to amplify or suppress neural activity, synaptic interactions, and evoked behaviours. Like circuit connections, the effects of neuromodulators can be cell type and pathway specific. We use pharmacology, and optogenetic techniques to examine the effects of neuromodualtors on neural circuits function in the mouse brain. 

Understanding the organization, properties, and modulation of neural circuits allows us to make hypotheses about when and how different populations of neurons contribute to motivated behaviour. We examine the role of cell type and pathway specific connections by monitoring and manipulating neural activity in vivo as mice perform natural, reward, and aversion behaviours.