Award
NIH Reporter #1R21MH137593-01A1
Characterizing the role of ventral pallidal astrocytes in approach/avoidance conflict
Recipient
University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences
Award Amount
$409,750.00
Ceiling
$409,750.00
Awarded
April 01, 2025
Identifier
1R21MH137593-01A1
The award funds research to study how ventral pallidal astrocytes affect approach/avoidance conflict behaviors in mice, using advanced neuroscience techniques. This work aims to uncover mechanisms relevant to mental health disorders.
Description
This project aims to characterize the role of ventral pallidal astrocytes in influencing approach/avoidance conflict behaviors in mice, using fiber photometry and chemogenetic manipulations in the platform-mediated avoidance task. The research seeks to understand how astrocytes mediate approach/avoidance conflict by regulating key synapses, which is significant for understanding mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and addiction.