Hypothalamic Control Of Motivated Behavior

激励动力和奖励是维持动态平衡的生存过程。在人类中，这些大脑回路的失调表现为抑郁症和成瘾等疾病。我们的项目专注于下丘脑中调节奖赏和动机的一个关键神经元亚群。我们的目标是了解有效的奖励经验(如药物)或压力如何改变这些回路，并确定治疗干预的潜在切入点。

Motivational drive and reward are survival processes that underpin the maintenance of homeostasis. In humans, dysregulation of these brain circuits manifests in disorders such as depression and addictions. Our projects is focused on a key subgroup of neurons in the hypothalamus that modulates reward and motivation. We aim to understand how potent reward experience (e.g. drugs) or stress modifies these circuits and to identify potential entry points for therapeutic interventions.