Schizophrenia is a highly heterogeneous disorder characterized by a multitude of complex
and seemingly non-overlapping symptoms. The insular cortex has gained increasing …

Sleep is fundamental to life, and poor sleep quality is linked to the suboptimal function of the
neural circuits that process and respond to emotional stimuli. Wakefulness (“arousal”) is …

Active responses to stressors involve motor planning, execution, and feedback. Here we
identify an insular cortex to BNST (insula→ BNST) circuit recruited during restraint stress …

Compulsive alcohol drinking is a key symptom of alcohol use disorder (AUD) that is
particularly resistant to treatment. An understanding of the biological factors that underly …

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), as part of the extended amygdala, has
become a region of increasing interest regarding its role in numerous human stress-related …

The insular cortex (IC) integrates sensory and interoceptive cues to inform downstream
circuitry executing adaptive behavioral responses. The IC communicates with areas …

A stressor can trigger lasting adaptations that contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Predator odor (TMT) exposure is an innate stressor that may activate the metabotropic …

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts many veterans. Although PTSD
has been linked to alterations in the fear brain network, the disorder likely involves …

Modifications in brain regions that govern reward-seeking are thought to contribute to
persistent behaviors that are heavily associated with alcohol-use disorder (AUD) including …

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a medial basal forebrain structure that
modulates the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The heterogeneous subnuclei of …