OUR research projects
drug use during pregnancy and the postpartum stage
The structural and functional changes that characterize the pregnant brain are comparable to those seen during adolescence. However, the long-term consequences of drug use during this stage remain comparatively understudied. More importantly, our scientific efforts have largely focused on the offspring, often neglecting the mother and her postpartum mental health. Our research addresses this gap by investigating how exposure to psychoactive substances during gestation disrupts maternal brain function, with a focus on the oxytocin system and its role in postpartum motivation and reward. Using rodent models, we explore how these substances interfere with the dynamic regulation of oxytocin signaling in the hypothalamus, and how this disruption affects dopamine signaling in the postpartum stage. This work integrates in vivo imaging, behavioral economics, and electrophysiology to provide a mechanistic understanding of how gestational drug exposure reshapes postpartum motivation and mental health.
Endocannabinoid-mediated salience attribution
The ability to assign survival relevance (salience) to environmental stimuli is essential for adaptive decision-making. While this process has traditionally been attributed to the mesolimbic dopamine system, emerging evidence suggests that other neuromodulatory systems, including the endocannabinoid system, play a critical role. Our research investigates how endocannabinoid signaling in the prefrontal cortex modulates attention toward reward- and punishment-predictive stimuli. We dissect the molecular machinery responsible for the generation, reception, and computation of this lipid-based signal, and examine how it shapes cortical encoding of motivational salience. By identifying the circuit and cellular mechanisms through which endocannabinoids regulate attention and motivation, we aim to uncover how dysregulation in this system contributes to psychiatric conditions such as substance use disorders (SUDs).
Mapping the Neural Basis of Motivational Resilience
Continued use of drugs can lead to compulsive drug seeking and a loss of behavioral control, predisposing individuals to a substance use disorder (SUD). However, not all individuals exposed to addictive substances develop these patterns. Our research focuses on uncovering the brain mechanisms that confer resilience to substance use disorders (SUDs), with the goal of identifying novel targets for non-invasive neuromodulation therapies. We investigate how specific neuronal populations in the striatum and its cortical inputs encode transitions away from drug-seeking behavior. Using high-density electrophysiology, closed-loop optogenetics and novel statistical-computational tools, we aim to isolate and amplify naturally occurring neural signatures that promote disengagement from drug use. By shifting the focus from vulnerability to resilience, this work opens new avenues for understanding and treating addiction through precision neuromodulation.
