Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience Faculty Recruitment Seminar     

William 'Matt' Howe, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai

  • Wednesday, February 13, 2019 
  • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Steger Conference Center

Ascending projection systems such as cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain and orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus have historically been described as neuromodulators. This categorization has carried with it the assumption that these systems act globally in the brain to gait non-specific behavioral functions. I’ll provide evidence that both orexin and cholinergic neurotransmission can mediate nicotine and cocaine intake, respectively, through their regulation of discrete thalamic circuits. These data reveal the capacity of neuromodulators to control very specific aspects of reward-related behavior, as well as novel circuit mechanisms that may serve as targets to reduce drug seeking in addiction.

Join on-line from a PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android device: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/6407137054

For questions, contact Jonathan Hedrick