NEW AD - BMI Seminar // Optogenetics of arousal and hyperarousal

The arousal construct underlies a spectrum of behaviors that include sleep, exploration, feeding, sexual activity and adaptive stress. Pathological arousal conditions include stress, anxiety disorders, and addiction. In the past few years we have used optogenetics to interrogate neuronal circuits underlying transitions between arousal states. In particular, I will talk about how the hypocretin system, makes the decisions about when to mark the transition between sleep and wakefulness. The dynamics between arousal state transitions are also modulated by norepinephrine neurons in the locus coeruleus, histaminergic neurons in the hypothalamus, dopaminergic neurons in the mesencephalon. I will present data deconstructing some of the circuits associated with hypervigilance..  I will also talk about experiments uncovering a new paradigm to study social arousal and intersubjectivity, and how optogenetics can assist to map the underpinnings of complex social behavior.