Uncovering a novel memory process mediating stimulus-based decisions

该项目旨在描述环境刺激如何影响行动之间的选择。目的是证明这种影响会引发一种新的记忆形式，其特征是阿片受体表达的持久变化。它将把复杂的行为任务与啮齿动物的现代遗传工具结合起来，以确定这种记忆的获得、维持和恢复背后的分子、细胞和神经相互作用。该项目希望为促进动机行为和适应性决策的大脑机制提供新的见解，并扩展关于我们记忆的生理基础的知识。

The project aims to describe how environmental stimuli influence choice between actions. The goal is to demonstrate that this influence recruits a novel form of memory characterised by a durable change in the expression of an opioid receptor. It will combine sophisticated behavioural tasks with modern genetic tools in rodents to identify the molecular, cellular and neural interactions underlying the acquisition, maintenance and retrieval of this memory. The project expects to provide new insights into the brain machinery promoting motivated behaviours and adaptive decision-making, and to extend knowledge about the physiological underpinnings of our memories.