The impact of dopamine on adaptive behavior in a naturalistic environment is largely unexamined. Experimental work suggests that phasic central to reinforcement learning whereas tonic may modulate performance without altering per se; however, this idea has not been developed formally or integrated with computational models function. We quantitatively evaluate the role these functions by studying hyperdopaminergic DAT knockdown mice an instrumental task semi-naturalistic homecage environment....

Animal studies have been instrumental in providing evidence for exercise-induced neuroplasticity of corticostriatal circuits that are profoundly affected Parkinson's disease. Exercise has implicated modulating dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission, altering synaptogenesis, increasing cerebral blood flow. In addition, recent supports the type exercise may regional effects on brain circuitry, with skilled differentially affecting frontal-striatal related to a greater degree than pure...

Accumulating evidence indicates integration of dopamine function with metabolic signals, highlighting a potential role for in energy balance, frequently construed as modulating reward response to homeostatic state. Though its precise remains controversial, the perspective has dominated investigation motivational disorders, including obesity. In hypothesis outlined here, we suggest instead that primary behavior is modulate activity adapt behavioral expenditure prevailing environmental...

Abstract Objective Dopamine (DA) is critical for motor performance, learning, and corticostriatal plasticity. The relationship between performance the role of DA in mediation them, however, remain unclear. Methods To examine this question, we took advantage PITx3‐deficient mice ( aphakia mice), which dorsal striatum reduced by 90%. do not display obvious deficits their home cage, but are impaired tasks that require new skills. We used accelerating rotarod as a learning task. Results show...

Dopamine contributes to corticostriatal plasticity and motor learning. denervation profoundly alters performance, as in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the extent which these symptoms reflect impaired learning is unknown. Here, we demonstrate a D2 receptor blockade-induced aberrant that impedes future performance when dopamine signaling restored, an effect diminished by coadministration of adenosine antagonists during blockade. We hypothesize inappropriate potentiation striatopallidal...

Cues that have been paired with food evoke dopamine in nucleus accumbens (NAc) and drive approach behavior. This cue-evoked signaling could contribute to overconsumption of food. One manner which individuals try restrict caloric intake is through the consumption foods containing artificial (non-nutritive) sweeteners. We were interested whether cues a non-nutritive sweetener (saccharin) would similar release as nutritive (sucrose). trained food-restricted rats associate distinct sucrose or...

Dopamine (DA)-dependent corticostriatal plasticity is thought to underlie incremental procedural learning. A primary effector of striatal DA signaling cAMP, yet its role in and striatum-dependent learning remains unclear. Here, we show that genetic deletion a striatum-enriched isoform adenylyl cyclase, AC5 knock-out (AC5KO), impairs two forms synaptic plasticity. AC5KO mice were severely impaired acquisition response strategy the cross maze, task requiring correct body turn find goal arm. In...

Abstract Recent findings suggest the reward system encodes metabolic value independent of taste, provoking speculation that hedonic taste could be derived from nutritional as a secondary appetitive property. We therefore dissociated and compared impact nutrition on behavior in several paradigms. Though alone induces preference increased consumption, absence its reinforcing properties are greatly diminished it does not, like sucrose, induce responding over time. In agreement with behavioral...

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed presynaptically on dopamine axon terminals, and their activation by endogenous from striatal cholinergic interneurons enhances release both independently of in concert with neuron activity. Acute nAChR inactivation is believed to enhance the contrast between low- high-frequency cell Although these studies reveal a key role for acute nAChRs microcircuitry, it remains unknown if chronic inactivation/desensitization can alter dynamics....

Increased physical activity is a common feature of anorexia nervosa (AN). Although high levels are associated with greater risk developing AN, particularly when combined dieting, most individuals who diet and exercise maintain healthy body weight. It unclear why some develop AN while do not. A rodent model resilience vulnerability to would be valuable research. Dopamine, which believed play crucial role in regulates both reward may modulate vulnerability.Adolescent young adult female...

Behavioral sensitization to repeated psychostimulant exposure is believed contribute the development of addiction. Nucleus accumbens (NAcc) dopamine (DA) known be a key substrate in sensitization, though recent work suggests that striatal acetylcholine (ACh) may also play critical role. However, underlying ACh changes and their relationship DA signaling have not been characterized. Here, we used dual-color fiber photometry simultaneously measure NAcc shell mice across injections cocaine or...

Disclosure of homosexuality by a family member frequently creates crisis within the family. Previous research has focused primarily on families' response to this initial and how they cope with transform negative reactions. Little attention been given families respond disclosure over time integrate gay or lesbian member--and his her relationships--once have come accept homosexuality. Using narrative approach interviewing whole families, project explores these questions. We present 12 themes...

The contribution of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to metabolic disorder and obesity, independent fat, energy-rich diets, is controversial. While high-fat diets are widely accepted as a rodent model diet-induced obesity (DIO) disorder, the value HFCS alone DIO unclear. Impaired dopamine function associated with fat diet, but effect on system has not been investigated. objective this study was test weight gain, glucose regulation, evoked release using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Mice...

Life-Course and Severe Mental Illness: Implications for Caregiving Within the Family of Later Life* Judith A. Cook**, Bertram J. Cohler, Susan Pickett, Jeff Beeler This analysis applies a life-course perspective to study family caregiving persons with severe persistent mental illness in later life. involves understanding how is impacted by changing socio-historical trends as well recent discoveries about course treatment serious illness. Application new research on aging psychiatr-ic...

Abstract The authors report results from a study assessing the social service needs of gay menand lesbians over 45 years age in Chicago. Results suggest that this population is diverse and presents wide range needs. advocate use community organizing approach involves older men provision services. also highlight need to consider context which services will be provided.

The cause of the current increase in obesity westernized nations is poorly understood but frequently attributed to a 'thrifty genotype,' an evolutionary predisposition store calories times plenty protect against future scarcity. In modern, industrialized environments that provide ready, uninterrupted supply energy-rich foods at low cost, this genetic hypothesized lead obesity. Children are also exposed 'obesogenic' environment; however, whether such early dietary experience has developmental...

Dopamine has long been implicated as a critical neural substrate mediating anorexia nervosa (AN). Despite nearly 50 years of research, the putative direction change in dopamine function remains unclear and no consensus on mechanistic role AN achieved. We hypothesize two stages AN– corresponding to initial development entrenchment– characterized by opposite changes dopamine. First, caloric restriction, particularly when combined with exercise, triggers an escalating spiral increasing that...

Dopamine is widely associated with reward, motivation, and reinforcement learning. Research on dopamine has emphasized its contribution to compulsive behaviors, such as addiction overeating, less examination of potential role in behavioral flexibility normal, non-pathological states. In the study reviewed here, we investigated effect increased tonic a two-lever homecage operant paradigm where relative value levers was dynamic, requiring mice constantly monitor reward outcome adapt their...

Recent experimental evidence suggests that the low dopamine conditions in Parkinson's disease (PD) cause motor impairment through aberrant learning. Those data, along with computational models, suggest this learning results from maladaptive corticostriatal plasticity and learned inhibition. Dopaminergic modulation of both long-term depression (LTD) potentiation (LTP) is proposed to be critical for these processes; however, regulatory mechanisms underlying bidirectional are not fully...