DISSECTING NOREPINEPHRINERGIC SIGNALING PATHWAYS IN HYPOTHALAMUS

Deniz ATASOY

(Istanbul, Turkey)

DISSECTING NOREPINEPHRINERGIC SIGNALING PATHWAYS IN HYPOTHALAMUS

11:30 AM

Abstract

Dedicated brain circuits drive innate motivated behaviours such as feeding and drinking. Our focus is to dissect out the neural circuits that control feeding behaviour in terms of underlying cell types, their connectivity and activity. We use genetic approaches to define  neuronal populations and remotely manipulate their electrical activity with optical / pharmacological tools while measuring their contribution to feeding.  Ultimately understanding these circuits will help us to gain insight into how neural populations give rise to behaviour  and may also explain some of the diseases associated with their dysregulation such as obesity.