Alycia M. Crooks

Abstract Astrocytes sense and modify neuronal activity, and accumulating evidence suggests a role for these cells in the modulation of neuroinflammation and cognition. Most experiments investigating the in vivo role of astrocytic signaling use viral vectors to drive astrocyte-specific expression of receptors in localized regions of the brain. However, viral vector-mediated delivery of receptors can lead to off-target inflammation and impact neurogenesis, neuronal function and behavior.

Abstract The ability to learn Pavlovian associations from environmental cues predicting positive outcomes is critical for survival, motivating adaptive behaviours. This cued-motivated behaviour depends on the nucleus accumbens (NAc).