Scientists at Washington State University reported work on a brain connection between the prelimbic cortex and the paraventricular thalamus. The study appears in the Journal of Neuroscience and comes from the university's integrative physiology and neuroscience group in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Using a preclinical model that mimics human opioid use, the researchers found that lowering activity in this pathway reduced heroin-seeking behavior. The project was led by graduate researcher Allison Jensen under assistant professor Giuseppe Giannotti.
They tested two methods: one put a designer receptor into neurons and activated it with a drug, and the other used a fiber-optic light to weaken the connection. The team plans to study how drug cues trigger the circuit next.
Difficult words
- pathway — a route of connected cells in the brain
- preclinical — a study done before human tests begin
- mimic — to copy or show like something elsemimics
- neuron — a brain cell that sends and receives signalsneurons
- activate — to make something start working or activeactivated
- cue — a sign or object that makes a person actcues
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Discussion questions
- Why might scientists study a preclinical model that mimics human opioid use?
- Do you think studying drug cues could help people stop using drugs? Why or why not?
- Have you read or heard about brain research before? What did you learn?
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