Here we describe the development and application of miniature integrated microscopes
(miniscopes) paired with microendoscopes that allow for the visualization and manipulation …

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has proven to be highly enigmatic due to the diversity of its
underlying genetic causes and the huge variability in symptom presentation. Uncovering …

During adolescence, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) undergoes dramatic reorganization. PFC
development is profoundly influenced by the social environment, disruptions to which may …

The actin cytoskeleton impacts practically every function of a eukaryotic cell. Historically, the
best-characterized cytoskeletal activities are in cell morphogenesis, motility, and division …

Synaptogenesis is essential for circuit development; however, it is unknown whether it is
critical for the establishment and performance of goal-directed voluntary behaviors. Here, we …

Social behaviors entail responses to social information and requires the perception and
integration of social cues through a complex cognition process that involves attention …

Dysfunctional sociability is a core symptom in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may arise
from neural-network dysconnectivity between multiple brain regions. However, pathogenic …

Adaptive behavior critically depends on the detection of behaviorally relevant stimuli. The
anterior insular cortex (aIC) has long been proposed as a key player in the representation …

Excess dopamine release in the dorsal striatum (DS) is linked to psychosis. Antipsychotics
are thought to work by blocking striatal D2 dopamine receptors, but they lack efficacy for the …

Background Chronic stress exposure increases the risk of mental health problems such as
anxiety and depression. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a hub for controlling stress …