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Toward molecular genetic dissection of neural circuits for emotional and motivational behaviors
Author(s) -
Guo Su,
Wagle Mahendra,
Mathur Priya
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
developmental neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.716
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1932-846X
pISSN - 1932-8451
DOI - 10.1002/dneu.20927
Subject(s) - neuroscience , biological neural network , zebrafish , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , biology , cognitive psychology , cognitive science , gene , biochemistry , psychiatry
How does the brain process the emotional meaning of sensory stimuli and in turn drive behavior? Studies in the mammalian systems have identified various brain regions and neurotransmitter systems that are critical for emotional and motivational behaviors and have implicated their involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and addiction. Despite these significant advancements, the precise neural circuitry underlying emotional and motivational behaviors remains to be understood at molecular and cellular levels. In this review, we discuss how the vertebrate model organism zebrafish can help us gain insights into the underlying circuitry. We first describe studies of several simple and relevant preference behaviors in this model organism, and then discuss approaches and technologies that can be used to uncover the development and function of neural circuits underlying these behaviors. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 358–365, 2012