During evolution, the cerebral cortex advances by increasing in surface and the introduction
of new cytoarchitectonic areas among which the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is considered to be …

Dopamine-releasing neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have central roles in
reward-related and goal-directed behaviours. VTA dopamine-releasing neurons are …

The nucleus accumbens is a major input structure of the basal ganglia and integrates
information from cortical and limbic structures to mediate goal-directed behaviors. Chronic …

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a heterogeneous brain structure that serves a central
role in motivation and reward processing. Abnormalities in the function of VTA dopamine …

Dysfunctional dopamine (DA) signaling has been associated with a broad spectrum of
neuropsychiatric disorders, prompting investigations into how midbrain DA neuron …

Nearly 40 years of research on the function of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has provided a
wealth of information on its contributions to behavior but has also yielded controversies and …

We screened for novel circuits in the mouse brain that promote wakefulness. Chemogenetic
activation experiments and electroencephalogram recordings pointed to …

Opioids are the most potent analgesics in clinical use; however, their powerful rewarding
properties can lead to addiction. The scientific challenge is to retain analgesic potency while …

This Perspective will examine the organization of intrastriatal circuitry, review recent findings
in this area, and discuss how the pattern of connectivity between striatal neurons might give …

Currently there is no general approach for achieving specific optogenetic control of
genetically defined cell types in rats, which provide a powerful experimental system for …