Faculty Sponsor: Laverne Melón
Tina Han
Tina Han is a rising senior from China majoring in Neuroscience and Philosophy. Her research interest circles around emotion, memory, and narration. She aims to break the boundary between subjects, using computational and traditional techniques to explore the emotional circuits in human brain. Outside of classroom, she does acting, skating, skiing, and writing novels.
Abstract: Brain oscillations are caused by the dynamic interactions between inhibitory (GABAergic) interneurons and excitatory neurons, which reflect the intensity and frequency of neuronal impulses. Previous research revealed that GABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) regulate the stress-induced suppression of reward-seeking. This study examines the role of VTA GABAergic neurons in physiological and behavioral responses to alcohol, given that both alcohol and stress are potent modulators of VTA GABA neurons. The findings indicate that acute alcohol exposure induces a 4 Hz oscillation signal in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of male rodents, which is predictive of an increase in reward-seeking behavior. Long-term (2 weeks daily) alcohol exposure dampens the reward signal in male rodents, according to the study. A significant increase in theta, beta, and gamma oscillation amplitude and coherence in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and ventral temporal lobe (VTA) after alcohol cessation suggests increased communication between brain regions. The precise effects will be determined by future experimental design and research.
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