New paper revises the basal ganglia’s involvement in sleep–wake regulation
Traditionally linked to motor control and motivation, the basal ganglia, particularly the nucleus accumbens (NAc), are now recognized as central to sleep–wake regulation. Rodent studies highlight the NAc as a hub where motivation, arousal, and sleep homeostasis converge, mediated by D1- and D2-MSN activity. This review examines its organization and circuits, emphasizing roles in vigilance, […]
New paper release on direct and indirect striatal projecting neurons and decision-making
Direct and indirect striatal projecting neurons exert strategy-dependent effects on decision-making. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq0484
Congratulations to the new FRIA PhD fellows
Congratulations to Rania Tribak and Audrius Januškevičius on being awarded the FRIA PhD fellowship!
Paper release on newly discovered D1/D2 co-expressing striatal neuron population
Striatal projection neurons coexpressing dopamine D1 and D2 receptors modulate the motor function of D1- and D2-SPNs https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-024-01694-4
Congratulations to Patricia Bonnavion & Patrick Laurent for the the awarded FNRS research grants!
Congratulations to Patrick Laurent (PDR and Equipement EQP) and Patricia Bonnavion (CDR and Audacious Medical Grant Neuro – FNRS) on their successful grant applications in December at the FNRS!
Congratulations to the new FRIA PhD fellows
Congratulations to Clémentine Deleuze, Aleksandra Nawrocka, and Antonieta Espejel Grageda on being awarded the FRIA PhD fellowship!
Maged1 and USP7 in a new unexpected mechanism involved in drug dependence
Published in Nature Communication, our study unveils a novel mechanism involving the gene Maged1, which surprisingly operates outside the anticipated reward circuit, within the paraventricular thalamus region of the brain. This unexpected finding sheds light on specific epigenetic modifications, altering DNA structure and influencing gene expression. We identified USP7 as a crucial partner in these […]
Paper release on activity of striatal neurons and behavior encoding
The respective activation and silencing of striatal direct and indirect pathway neurons support behavior encoding. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40677-0
Paper release on nucleus accumbens and social behavior in mice
Balance Between Projecting Neuronal Populations of the Nucleus Accumbens Controls Social Behavior in Mice. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.008
New submitted paper on the role of D1- and D2-SPNs in social interaction is now in BioRxi
Our study reports the key role played by NAc D1R/D2R-SPN balance of activity in controlling social behavior and evidences the promises of pharmacological compounds developed to repress D2R. https://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.11.28.518147v1
