To understand brain function, it is essential that we discover how cellular signaling specifies
normal and pathological brain function. In this regard, chemogenetic technologies represent …

Technological advances over the last decade are changing the face of behavioral
neuroscience research. Here we review recent work on the use of one such transformative …

Clozapine N-oxide (CNO) is a ligand for a powerful chemogenetic system that can
selectively inhibit or activate neurons; the so-called Designer Receptors Exclusively …

In order to thrive, animals must be able to recognize aversive and appetitive stimuli within
the environment and subsequently initiate appropriate behavioral responses. This …

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) has been shown to negatively regulate cocaine-
seeking behavior, but the precise conditions by which vmPFC activity can be exploited to …

In many human alcoholics, abstinence is self-imposed because of the negative
consequences of excessive alcohol use, and relapse is often triggered by exposure to …

Multiple autism risk genes converge on the regulation of mTOR signalling, which is a key
effector of neuronal growth and connectivity. We show that mTOR signalling is dysregulated …

Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drug (DREADDs) are a novel tool with
the potential to bidirectionally drive cellular, circuit, and ultimately, behavioral changes. We …

Attention is disrupted commonly in psychiatric disorders, yet mechanistic insight remains
limited. Deficits in this function are associated with dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) …

Hyperactivity is a core symptom in various psychiatric disorders, including attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and anorexia nervosa …