Characterizing striatal patch-dopamine interactions in freely-moving mice

Project Title

Characterizing striatal patch-dopamine interactions in freely-moving mice

Faculty Mentor(s)

Project Description

Project Description: 

Selecting appropriate actions and updating behaviors based on outcomes is a crucial process for all animals. This function is largely associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine and controlled by a deep brain region called the striatum. Interestingly, the striatum contains specialized regions called ‘patches’ (or striosomes), with distinct gene expression profiles compared to the surrounding ‘matrix’ tissues. These patches can send inhibitory signals to midbrain dopamine neurons, acting as a negative feedback loop, which make them an interesting candidate for behavioral regulation. My project utilizes fiber photometry to reveal how the striatum and dopamine systems coordinate their activity to modify ongoing actions.
 

Why is your research important?

Fiber photometry is a novel technique established in the recent decade. People have rarely studied striatal patches in mice during behaviors, and fiber photometry opens an interesting opportunity. My project will contribute to the question that we still yet have a definitive answer: what does dopamine do in the brain?
 

In what ways have you showcased your research thus far?

I have presented my research multiple times at the Midwest Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience (mGluRs) and at Oberlin. I completed my Honors Thesis, and we hope to get a publication soon.
 

How did you get involved in research? What drove you to seek out research experiences in college?

I have always been fascinated by the idea of how scientists perform experimental research to fulfill their curiosities and to answer the unknown. After taking introductory-level Neuroscience classes, I really wanted to have some hands-on experience to further explore the concepts we covered in the lecture. Furthermore, I want to pursue a PhD in Biological Science, and undergraduate research experience will better prepare me for my future career path. I started working in the Howard Lab on collaborative behavior projects, and eventually got my own independent project.
 

What is your favorite aspect of the research process?

This may sound odd, but I really enjoy the troubleshooting part of research for this project, and with time, I became better at solving unexpected issues with a detective mindset. Fiber photometry was a relatively new thing for the lab, and I did a lot of the early establishment work. Furthermore, I had to perform stereotactic surgery on mice, and it was a great challenge for me at first. I feel mightily rewarded now that I can not only do the surgeries well myself but also confidently train new lab members on this task that I used to view as impossible to perfect.
 

How has working with your mentor impacted the development of your research project? How has it impacted you as a researcher?

Prof. Howard is really a fantastic and supportive mentor. At the same time, he is great at cultivating the independence of his mentees, which is a crucial quality for researchers. I almost always have the opportunity to analyze the situation and make decisions myself instead of having him decide the plan for me. Thus, I really feel like this is my own project, and I have learned a lot of necessary troubleshooting skills that will benefit my future career path.

 

How has the research you’ve conducted contributed to your professional or academic development?  

My research project has taught me how to think as a scientist and provided me with numerous hands-on experiences. With my training at the Howard Lab, I am also much better at engaging with scientific literature and establishing a network of knowledge on any topics of interest. It reinforced my determination to continue a research path.
 

What advice would you give to a younger student wanting to get involved in research in your field?

The most important quality of a researcher, in my mind, is to remain curious and always ask questions. Although it may sound scary, the most crucial step to getting involved in research is to reach out to professors, and things will always get easier after you have taken the first step!