Our laboratory focuses on the brain pathways that are involved in motivated behaviours and stress. We study the basic wiring of circuits controlling the activity of specific cell types in the hypothalamus and other nodes of the brain reward-seeking pathway including the amygdala and striatum.

The teams’ aim is to dissect the maladaptive rewiring that occurs in the brain which promote pathological motivational states that can manifest as addictions, and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.