Dopamine and neuronal assemblies (page under construction)

Research subject

Motion and emotion are intimately linked. The major goal of our research is to delineate the functions of dopamine in the “extended basal ganglia network” (EBG). EBG is a neural circuit controlling movement and emotional states (voluntary movement, associative learning, explorative behavior using processing of relevant sensory information, stress), but is also involved in neurological and psychiatric disorders (Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, anxiety). The objective of our team is to establish a base of knowledge to define therapeutic avenues to treat the symptoms of neurological and psychiatric diseases related to the dopaminergic system. We are particularly interested in the control of synaptic transmission and plasticity by dopamine.

We study these mechanisms at the synapse, cell, neuronal circuit and behavioral levels. We combine state-of-the-art technology, such as: in and ex vivo electrophysiology (coupled with cell identification after single cell labeling), intersectional viral approaches to identify (tracing), manipulate (optogenetics, chemogenetics) and record (endoscopic imaging & fiberphotometry) neuronal activity (calcium imaging) or dopamine release (dopamine sensor) in animals engaged in a behavioral task. Using those innovative neurotechniques we aim to uncover how defined subsets of neurons within the EBG encode aspects of motion and emotion.

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