麻豆AV

Research Areas:

Behavioural Neuroscience

Research Summary:

Dr. Britt鈥檚 research examines the neural circuitry underlying motivated behaviours relevant to reward learning and drug addiction. He primarily focuses on neural processing in the basal ganglia, which is a collection of nuclei that regulate reinforcement learning. This circuitry also affects as the vigor and self-awareness by which animals pursue specific goals. By combining electrophysiological and optogenetic techniques with various behavioural tasks, his research program seeks to identify the precise neural circuits and synaptic modifications that support compulsive behaviour. This research is applicable to numerous neuropsychiatric conditions including addiction, Tourette鈥檚 Syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Selected References:

Britt JP, Bonci A. (2013). Optogenetic interrogations of the neural circuits underlying addiction. Curr Opin Neurobiol., 4, 539-45.

Britt JP, Benaliouad F, McDevitt RA, Stuber GD, Wise RA, Bonci A. (2012).听Synaptic and behavioral profile of multiple glutamatergic inputs to the nucleus accumbens. Neuron, 76(4), 790-803.

Britt JP, McDevitt RA, Bonci A. (2012).听Use of channelrhodopsin for activation of CNS neurons. Curr Protoc Neurosci. Chapter 2: Unit 2.16

Britt JP, McGehee DS. (2008).听Presynaptic opioid and nicotinic receptor modulation of dopamine overflow in the nucleus accumbens. J Neurosci.听28(7), 1672-81.



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