Optogenetic control of brain circuits mediating reward and aversion

Researchers in Prof. Robert Malenka's laboratory have developed a light-activated animal system that could be used to identify compounds that treat certain psychiatric disorders. This optogenetic technology employs light-responsive opsins to precisely induce or modulate the brain circuits (ventral tegmental area dopamine and GABA neurons) involved in reward- or aversive-behaviors. This invention could be used to screen for therapeutic agents that treat conditions such as drug addiction, depression or schizophrenia.

Optogenetic stimulation of a specific set of afferents to the ventral tegmental area can either elicit (A) conditioned place preference or (B) conditioned place aversion.