The many roles of dopamine – identifying subcircuits in the dopaminergic system that modulate specific aspects of motivated behavior

B05: The many roles of dopamine – identifying subcircuits in the dopaminergic system that modulate specific aspects of motivated behavior 

Project B05 will examine the role of different subsets of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in motivated behavior and learning. The project proposes that the midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) system is composed of distinct units, each encoding a particular behavioral aspect. It will examine if functionally or developmentally defined subgroups of mDA neurons are activated during specific aspects of motivated behavior, and if they are characterized by specific gene expression profiles, anatomical location and/or outputs.