Voltammetry of Dopamine Release During Behavior

神经科学的一个主要问题是将我们所知道的 神经系统中的化学信使 行为。 这个项目结合了调查人员的专业知识 在化学和生物科学中， 神经递质释放与行为的关系。的 在中枢神经系统中研究最多的神经递质是 多巴胺 尽管多巴胺在行为中的作用 一直是深入调查的主题，其具体作用， 许多行为仍然不被理解。 的一部分 进展缓慢的原因是缺乏方法 其允许观察行为期间的多巴胺释放。 约瑟夫·贾斯蒂斯博士和达里尔·尼尔博士 将用于监测神经递质的技术 在动物行为中释放。 特别是， 多巴胺的释放和奖励将被调查，使用 颅内自刺激、药物自刺激和食物 奖励 行为研究表明多巴胺在 这三种不同刺激的回报。 直接观察 被认为是调节这些行为的神经化学底物 将大大增强我们对多巴胺释放的理解 和行为。

One of the major issues in neuroscience is tying what we know about chemical messengers in the nervous system to actual behaviors. This project combines the expertise of investigators in the chemical and biological sciences to address the problem of the relationship of neurotransmitter release and behavior. The most studied neurotransmitter in the central nervous system is dopamine. Although the role that dopamine plays in behavior has been the subject of intensive investigation, its specific role in a number of behaviors is still not understood. Part of the reason for the slow progress has been the absence of methods which allow observation of dopamine release during behavior. Drs. Joseph Justice and Darryl Neill have developed new techniques which will be utilized to monitor neurotransmitter release in behaving animals. In particular the relationship of dopamine release and reward will be investigated, using intracranial self-stimulation, drug self-stimulation and food reward. Behavioral studies have indicated a role of dopamine in the reward of these three different stimuli. Direct observation of the neurochemical substrate thought to mediate these behaviors will significantly enhance our understanding of dopamine release and behavior.