Dysfunction in circuits mediating aversion and reward underlies mental disorders, such as anxiety, major depression and addiction. Whereas recent studies have identified the lateral habenula, raphe and ventral tegmental area as key regions mediating aversion and reward, little is known afferents influencing these structures. In this proposal, we will investigate the role of the ventral pallidum and its projections in aversion and reward encoding in mice.
In Aim 1, we will characterize how glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons mediate aversion and reward in a place preference task.
In Aim 2, we will characterize how glutamatergic and GABAergic projections to downstream targets mediate aversion and reward in a place preference task.
In Aim 3, we will use single-unit recording techniques to characterize how glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the ventral pallidum encode aversion and reward in a cost-benefit decision making task. We will also test whether VP glutamatergic neurons are necessary for execution of behavioral choice. Understanding how ventral pallidal circuits mediates aversion and reward will help guide treatment for several mental disorders.

Public Health Relevance

To ensure survival, individuals must be able to pursue rewarding elements and avoid aversive stimuli. Here, we propose to investigate the role of ventral pallidal circuits mediating reward and aversion using different behavioral tasks in conjunction with optogenetic, chemogenetic, immunohistochemistry and neuronal recording approaches. Understanding how the ventral pallidum mediates reward and aversion will help unveiling the mechanisms of mental disorders such as anxiety, major depression and addiction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32MH113316-01A1
Application #
9396203
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F02A-K (20)L)
Program Officer
Van'T Veer, Ashlee V
Project Start
2017-06-01
Project End
2020-05-31
Budget Start
2017-06-01
Budget End
2018-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$56,694
Indirect Cost
Name
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Department
Type
Research Institutes
DUNS #
065968786
City
Cold Spring Harbor
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11724