Dysfunctional signaling in midbrain reward circuits perpetuates diseases characterized by
compulsive overconsumption of rewarding substances such as substance abuse, binge …

Motivated behaviors are often initiated in response to perturbations of homeostasis. Indeed,
animals and humans have fundamental drives to procure (appetitive behaviors) and …

Understanding how the brain coordinates energy status with the motivation to eat is crucial
to identify strategies to improve disordered body weight. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) …

Polypeptides produced in the gastrointestinal tract, stomach, adipocytes, pancreas and brain
that influence food intake are referred to as 'feeding-related'peptides. Most peptides that …

Recent evidence has emerged demonstrating that metabolic hormones such as ghrelin and
leptin can act on ventral tegmental area (VTA) midbrain dopamine neurons to influence …

Motivated behavior is influenced by neural networks that integrate physiological needs.
Here, we describe coordinated regulation of hypothalamic feeding and midbrain reward …

Stress affects many brain regions, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is
critically involved in reward processing. Excessive stress can reduce reward-seeking …

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) activation in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is
physiologically relevant for the control of palatable food intake. Here, we tested whether the …

The mesolimbic dopamine system is the primary neural circuit mediating motivation,
reinforcement, and reward-related behavior. The activity of this system and multiple …

Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are heterogeneous and
differentially regulate ingestive and locomotor behaviors that affect energy balance …