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Our lab is broadly interested in the neurobiology underlying substance use disorders and other motivated behaviors. We use a combination of rodent behavioral models, optogenetic techniques, and molecular approaches to understand the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms that drive drug craving, a key precipitator of relapse.
Role of cell subtype-specific nucleus accumbens projections in the incubation of methamphetamine craving.
Role of cell subtype-specific nucleus accumbens projections in the incubation of methamphetamine craving.
Contrary to what you might expect, drug craving actually intensifies across abstinence periods in a phenomenon that has been termed the incubation of drug craving. However, the mechanisms that drive heightened drug craving are not well-understood. Using optogenetics and transgenic rat behavior models, we explore the role of dopamine D1 receptor (D1DR)- and D2DR-containing medium spiny neuron outputs from the nucleus accumbens in regulating the incubation of methamphetamine craving.
Molecular mechanisms of the incubation of methamphetamine craving.
Molecular mechanisms of the incubation of methamphetamine craving.
A deeper understanding of the molecular neuroadaptations that occur during abstinence from psychostimulants may be leveraged as potential treatments for psychostimulant use disorder. We use single cell sequencing approaches to profile the gene expression and epigenetic landscape associated with the incubation of drug craving. When combined with transgenic rat models, we can functionally validate candidates to determine whether their expression drives methamphetamine craving.
Thanks for support from our funding sources.
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