Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jillian L. Seiler, Caitlin Cosme, Venus N. Sherathiya, Michael D. Schaid, Joseph M. Bianco, Abigael S. Bridgemohan, Talia N. Lerner
Summary: Compulsive behavior is a defining feature of disorders, and little is known about the mechanisms regulating its development. This study suggests that dopamine signaling in the dorsomedial striatum plays a key role in controlling the emergence of compulsive reward seeking.
Article
Neurosciences
Pablo Gimenez-Gomez, Raul Ballestin, Leticia Gil de Biedma-Elduayen, Rebeca Vidal, Carmen Ferrer-Perez, Marina D. Reguilon, Esther O'Shea, Jose Minarro, Maria Isabel Colado, Marta Rodriguez-Arias
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the long-lasting changes in the KYN pathway induced by social defeat and its impact on the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine. Defeated susceptible mice exhibited higher conditioning scores than resilient mice, with oxytocin or Indomethacin treatment normalizing cocaine-induced CPP. Furthermore, environmental enrichment prevented the increase in the KYN pathway and normalized the CPP induced by cocaine.
Article
Neurosciences
Brian R. Isett, Katrina P. Nguyen, Jenna C. Schwenk, Jeff R. Yurek, Christen N. Snyder, Maxime V. Vounatsos, Kendra A. Adegbesan, Ugne Ziausyte, Aryn H. Gittis
Summary: This study found that optogenetic stimulation of Adora2a receptor-expressing spiny projection neurons (A2A-SPNs) in the striatum can induce locomotor suppression and transient punishment, which is attributed to activation of the indirect pathway. It was also discovered that A2A-SPNs inhibit other SPNs through a short-range inhibitory collateral network in the striatum, and optogenetic stimuli that drive motor suppression utilize this common mechanism.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Marina D. Reguilon, Raul Ballestin, Jose Minarro, Marta Rodriguez-Arias
Summary: Adverse social experiences during adolescence are associated with the appearance of mental illness in adulthood. This study aims to characterize the resilient phenotype to depressive-like behaviors and increase cocaine and ethanol rewarding effects in adolescent mice socially defeated during adolescence.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Steven R. H. Beach, Man-Kit Lei, Justin A. Lavner, Olutosin Adesogan, Sierra E. Carter, Allen W. Barton
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on Black Americans, particularly in terms of increased stress and mental health difficulties. However, participation in the ProSAAF intervention study, which focuses on improving couple functioning, has been found to buffer the impact of pandemic-related stressors on depressive symptoms. This suggests that relationship interventions can enhance resilience and promote mental health during times of widespread stress.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gavan P. McNally, Philip Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel, E. Zayra Millan, Andrew J. Lawrence
Summary: The persistence of drug taking despite its adverse consequences has a significant impact on addiction. There are at least three pathways involved in persistent drug use: cognitive recognition of adverse consequences, motivational valuation of these consequences, and behavioral responses to adverse consequences. These pathways are dynamic and can lead to different trajectories of behavior change. Understanding and targeting these pathways are important for effective treatment.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Kathia Ramirez-Armenta, Hector Alatriste-Leon, Anil K. Verma-Rodriguez, Argelia Llanos-Moreno, Josue O. Ramirez-Jarquin, Fatuel Tecuapetla
Summary: Excessive grooming in Sapap3-KO mice is used as a model for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Studies show that dysregulation of cortico-striatal circuits is crucial for compulsive behaviors, with alteration in striatal neural activity patterns thought to underlie excessive grooming in these mice. Inhibiting striatal neurons in Sapap3-KO mice increases grooming episodes, but specifically inhibiting indirect pathway neurons reduces compulsive grooming, suggesting potential treatment targets for OCD patients.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Raul Ballestin, Laia Alegre-Zurano, Carmen Ferrer-Perez, Lidia Cantacorps, Jose Minarro, Olga Valverde, Marta Rodriguez-Arias
Summary: The study demonstrates that susceptible mice exposed to social defeat are more likely to exhibit depressive-like behaviors and show increased conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine, while resilient mice can successfully cope with stress and display adjusted psychological functioning after stress. Additionally, susceptible mice exhibit passive-reactive coping behavior during social stress episodes.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Psychiatry
Rita Z. Goldstein
Summary: This Viewpoint discusses the importance of neuropsychoimaging functions in gauging the success and failure of clinical trials in addiction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sanghoon Choi, Yijuan Du, David L. Wokosin, Steven M. Graves
Summary: This study found that repeated meth use resulted in dysfunction of the indirect pathway neurons in the dorsomedial striatum, with the severity of dysfunction dependent on the duration of abstinence. These findings have important implications for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of meth addiction.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Vickie Hughes, Sophia Cologer, Sandy Swoboda, Cynda Rushton
Summary: Resilience is a key factor in reducing nurse burnout and improving retention, and this paper highlights the importance of internal protective factors in promoting student nurse resilience. Educational strategies such as reflection and problem-based learning are essential in enhancing resilience among nursing students.
JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Xavier Bunuel, Teresa Alcoverro, Jordi Boada, Leire Zinkunegi, Timothy M. M. Smith, Anais Barrera, Marc Casas, Simone Farina, Marta Perez, Javier Romero, Rohan Arthur, Jordi F. F. Pages
Summary: Plant-herbivore interactions in marine environments, particularly in seagrass meadows, are regulated by direct and indirect mechanisms that determine the system's stability. This study evaluated the presence and strength of five mechanisms, including compensatory growth, increased resistance, alternative resources, predatory control, and density-dependent control, in the interaction between Posidonia oceanica and Paracentrotus lividus. The results showed that three mechanisms - availability of alternative resources, increased predation rate, and reduction in sea urchin numbers - effectively dampened herbivory and acted as potential buffering mechanisms. However, plant compensatory growth and resistance did not show clear responses. These findings highlight the importance of adaptive behaviors in the resilience of Mediterranean seagrass ecosystems to herbivory.
Article
Biology
Benjamin Feit, Nico Bluethgen, Eirini Daouti, Cory Straub, Michael Traugott, Mattias Jonsson
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change can threaten ecosystem service functioning, but response diversity among species can provide ecosystems with resilience. Measuring and managing response diversity and resilience to global change are key ecological challenges.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Eden M. Anderson, Annabel Engelhardt, Skyler Demis, Elissa Porath, Matthew C. Hearing
Summary: The study demonstrates that self-administration of the potent opioid remifentanil leads to a long-lasting hypoactive basal state in the medial prefrontal cortex, with distinct effects and mechanisms observed in males and females.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Loic Broussot, Thomas Contesse, Renan Costa-Campos, Christelle Glangetas, Lea Royon, Hugo Fofo, Thomas Lorivel, Francois Georges, Sebastian P. Fernandez, Jacques Barik
Summary: Freezing is a conserved defensive behavior, and the neural circuitry linking the LDTg-VTA-amygdala regions plays a crucial role in pathological freezing states such as post-traumatic stress disorders, panic attacks and social phobias.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kimberly H. LeBlanc, Tanisha D. London, Ilona Szczot, Miriam E. Bocarsly, Danielle M. Friend, Katrina P. Nguyen, Marda M. Mengesha, Marcelo Rubinstein, Veronica A. Alvarez, Alexxai V. Kravitz
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2020)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Alanna R. Kaplan, Peter M. Glazer
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Mary R. Lee, Jung H. Shin, Sara Deschaine, Allison M. Daurio, Bethany L. Stangl, Jia Yan, Vijay A. Ramchandani, Melanie L. Schwandt, Erica N. Grodin, Reza Momenan, Nadia S. Corral-Frias, Ahmad R. Hariri, Ryan Bogdan, Veronica A. Alvarez, Lorenzo Leggio
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
(2020)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Julia C. Lemos, Veronica A. Alvarez
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Lindsay R. Halladay, Adrina Kocharian, Patrick T. Piantadosi, Michael E. Authement, Abby G. Lieberman, Nathen A. Spitz, Kendall Coden, Lucas R. Glover, Vincent D. Costa, Veronica A. Alvarez, Andrew Holmes
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2020)
Article
Oncology
Alanna R. Kaplan, Ha Pham, Yanfeng Liu, Stanley Oyaghire, Raman Bahal, Donald M. Engelman, Peter M. Glazer
MOLECULAR CANCER RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Yann Ehinger, Nadege Morisot, Khanhky Phamluong, Samuel A. Sakhai, Drishti Soneja, Martin F. Adrover, Veronica A. Alvarez, Dorit Ron
Summary: The Fyn kinase in the dorsomedial striatum of rodents has been found to play a crucial role in mechanisms underlying excessive alcohol intake, with its actions being cell-type specific to dMSNs. The activation of cAMP-Fyn axis in DMS dMSNs is identified as a molecular transducer of mechanisms leading to the development of excessive alcohol consumption.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Martin F. Adrover, Jung Hoon Shin, Cesar Quiroz, Sergi Ferre, Julia C. Lemos, Veronica A. Alvarez
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Feimei Liu, Mytien Nguyen, Pavithra Vijayakumar, Alanna Kaplan, Amit Meir, Yile Dai, Eric Wang, Hannah Walsh, Aaron M. Ring, Saad B. Omer, Shelli F. Farhadian
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizabeth K. Unger, Jacob P. Keller, Michael Altermatt, Ruqiang Liang, Aya Matsui, Chunyang Dong, Olivia J. Hon, Zi Yao, Junqing Sun, Samba Banala, Meghan E. Flanigan, David A. Jaffe, Samantha Hartanto, Jane Carlen, Grace O. Mizuno, Phillip M. Borden, Amol Shivange, Lindsay P. Cameron, Steffen Sinning, Suzanne M. Underhill, David E. Olson, Susan G. Amara, Duncan Temple Lang, Gary Rudnick, Jonathan S. Marvin, Luke D. Lavis, Henry A. Lester, Veronica A. Alvarez, Andrew J. Fisher, Jennifer A. Prescher, Thomas L. Kash, Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy, Viviana Gradinaru, Loren L. Looger, Lin Tian
Article
Neurosciences
Ream Al-Hasani, Raajaram Gowrishankar, Gavin P. Schmitz, Christian E. Pedersen, David J. Marcus, Sofia E. Shirley, Taylor E. Hobbs, Abigail J. Elerding, Sophie J. Renaud, Miao Jing, Yulong Li, Veronica A. Alvarez, Julia C. Lemos, Michael R. Bruchas
Summary: This study reveals the significant role of long-range GABAergic projections from the VTA to the NAc shell in modulating reward behavior, particularly by inhibiting cholinergic activity and promoting reinforcement. These findings deepen our understanding of neuropsychiatric conditions like depression and addiction that involve these neural circuits.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Tamara Markovic, Christian E. Pedersen, Nicolas Massaly, Yvan M. Vachez, Brian Ruyle, Caitlin A. Murphy, Kavitha Abiraman, Jung Hoon Shin, Jeniffer J. Garcia, Hye Jean Yoon, Veronica A. Alvarez, Michael R. Bruchas, Meaghan C. Creed, Jose A. Moron
Summary: Anhedonia-like states in inflammatory pain are mediated through decreased activity of mesolimbic dopamine neurons, which are triggered by increased inhibitory control from the rostromedial tegmental nucleus onto ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons. Selective activation of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons can restore motivation and hedonic responses.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Changliang Liu, Xintong Cai, Andreas Ritzau-Jost, Paul F. Kramer, Yulong Li, Zayd M. Khaliq, Stefan Hallermann, Pascal S. Kaeser
Summary: Information flow in neurons involves integration of inputs in dendrites, generation of action potentials near the soma, and release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals in the axon. A study found that acetylcholine-releasing neurons in the striatum can induce action potential firing in distal dopamine axons. This mechanism segregates the control of dopamine signaling between axons and somata.
Article
Cell Biology
Dennis A. Burke, Veronica A. Alvarez
Summary: Dopamine modulation of nucleus accumbens circuitry plays a key role in reward seeking and reinforcement learning. This study reveals pathway-specific modulation of lateral inhibition between medium spiny neurons by dopamine, with involvement of D2 and 5-HT1B receptors in dopamine-induced synaptic depression of D2-MSN synapses.
Article
Neurosciences
Daniel Levenstein, Veronica A. Alvarez, Asohan Amarasingham, Habiba Azab, Zhe S. Chen, Richard C. Gerkin, Andrea Hasenstaub, Ramakrishnan Iyer, Renaud B. Jolivet, Sarah Marzen, Joseph D. Monaco, Astrid A. Prinz, Salma Quraishi, Fidel Santamaria, Sabyasachi Shivkumar, Matthew F. Singh, Roger Traub, Farzan Nadim, Horacio G. Rotstein, A. David Redish
Summary: In recent years, the field of neuroscience has rapidly advanced with the use of quantitative and computational methods. However, there is a need for clearer analysis of the theory and modeling approaches used in the field due to its complexity in studying phenomena across different scales. A pragmatic perspective of science, involving descriptive, mechanistic, and normative models and theories, can facilitate neuroscientific practice by defining and bridging levels of abstraction.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)