1. Endocannabinoids shape accumbal encoding of cue-motivated behavior via CB1 receptor activation in the ventral tegmentum

Oleson EB , Beckert MV, JT Morra JT, Lansink CS, Cachope R, Abdullah RA, Loriaux AL, Schetters D, Pattij T, Roitman MF, Lichtman AH, Cheer JF. Neuron. 2012 Jan 26; 73: 360-373.

"Miss Kimberly Tsutsui, Iness Gildish, Sharon Wu and Dr. Aurélie Fitoussi join the Cheer Lab"

Research in the Cheer Lab is aimed at elucidating fundamental neural mechanisms underlying motivated behaviors, and how these are modulated by the recently described endogenous cannabinoid system.
This signaling network has been involved in natural physiological processes such as pain perception, thermoregulation and motor coordination. The system is also implicated in maladaptive motivated behaviors such as drug addiction and obesity.

Our research seeks to extract neurobiological correlates of certain behaviors, within specifically defined anatomical frameworks to understand how key neural circuits in the brain function.

We use advanced state-of-the-art electrophysiological and neurochemical techniques to examine the activity patterns of individual neurons as well as neuronal populations and how these are regulated via neurotransmitters (dopamine in particular). We have recently implemented the use of a sensor that allows for the simultaneous measurement of neuronal firing and neurotransmitter release.

These techniques are particularly useful for elucidating specific temporal relationships between behavior and brain activity.