There are ever more compelling tools available for neuroscience research, ranging from
selective genetic targeting to optogenetic circuit control to map** whole connectomes …

Dopamine is a critical modulator of both learning and motivation. This presents a problem:
how can target cells know whether increased dopamine is a signal to learn or to move? It is …

Motor learning encompasses a wide range of phenomena, ranging from relatively low-level
mechanisms for maintaining calibration of our movements, to making high-level cognitive …

Midbrain dopamine neurons are well known for their strong responses to rewards and their
critical role in positive motivation. It has become increasingly clear, however, that dopamine …

Addiction is commonly identified with habitual nonmedical self-administration of drugs. It is
usually defined by characteristics of intoxication or by characteristics of withdrawal …

Deciding when and whether to move is critical for survival. Loss of dopamine neurons
(DANs) of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in patients with Parkinson's disease …

Dopaminergic projection axons from the midbrain to the striatum are crucial for motor
control, as their degeneration in Parkinson disease results in profound movement deficits …

Classically, the basal ganglia have been considered to have a role in producing habitual
and goal-directed behaviours. In this article, we review recent evidence that expands this …

Animals of the same species exhibit similar behaviours that are advantageously adapted to
their body and environment. These behaviours are shaped at the species level by selection …

Environmental cues, through Pavlovian learning, become conditioned stimuli that guide
animals toward the acquisition of rewards (for example, food) that are necessary for survival …