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Molecular Mechanisms of Behavior Formation

Molecular Mechanisms of Behavior Formation. Ed Ziff Skirball Molecular Neuroscience Program Departmen of Biochemistry. How does the Brain Respond to Information from the Senses to Generate Behavior?. B E H A V I O U R. Sight. Nervous System (memory). S ENSES. Playing piano.

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Molecular Mechanisms of Behavior Formation

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  1. Molecular Mechanisms of Behavior Formation Ed Ziff Skirball Molecular Neuroscience Program Departmen of Biochemistry

  2. How does the Brain Respond to Information from the Senses to Generate Behavior? B E H A V I O U R Sight Nervous System (memory) S ENSES Playing piano Hearing Speaking Touch Walking Taste Planning Smell Heart rate Pain Balance

  3. Synapses connect neurons to form circuits Direction of signal Synapse Synapses: Sites of Neuron Communication Vesicle Receptor

  4. Synapses connect neurons to form circuits Direction of signal Synapse Neurotransmitter is released Vesicle Receptor

  5. Synapses connect neurons to form circuits Direction of signal Synapse Receptors are activated Vesicle Receptor

  6. Synapses connect neurons to form circuits Direction of signal Synapse Neuron fires Vesicle Receptor Neuron “Fires”

  7. Synapses connect neurons to form circuits Direction of signal Synapse Adding Receptors Strengthens Synapses Vesicle Receptor Fire!

  8. How do rewards create behavior? Train rat to drink sucrose Train rat in cage to drink sucrose Rat seeks sucrose when placed back in cage

  9. Nucleus accumbens gathers information Seeing cage Su Rat brain Sensory Cortex PFC N Acc VTA Drinking sucrose Collaboration with Dr. Ken Carr, Psychiatry Department

  10. Nucleus accumbens controls prefrontal cortex and behavior Seeing cage Su Rat brain Sensory Cortex PFC N Acc VTA Rat seeks sucrose when placed again in cage Collaboration with Dr. Ken Carr, Psychiatry Department

  11. Rewards Strengthen Specific Synapses Rat sees cage Su Rat brain Sensory Cortex PFC N Acc VTA Rat seeks sucrose when placed again in cage Sucrose Strong Weak Synapses in nucleus accumbens strengthen Collaboration with Dr. Ken Carr, Psychiatry Department

  12. Addictive Behavior Formation Natural rewards, such as sucrose, strengthen synapses in the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain’s reward system. These changes contribute to sucrose-seeking behavior Similar changes take place during cocaine addiction. These findings are relevant to the mechanisms of compulsive eating behavior and the epidemic of obesity. Supported by the NYU Langone Medical Center Center of Excellence on Addiction and the NIH

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