Dear All,

I would like to cordially invite you to the lecture which will take place on the 23rd of April at 3pm in the Konorski lecture hall. We will host dr Anna Beroun (Head of the Laboratory of Neuronal Plasticity/Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences). Her habilitation is processed by the Scientific Council of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences. She will give a lecture entitled: "Synaptic plasticity in appetitive memory formation and addiction development"

Abstract:

In my talk, I will describe my research that combines animal models of drug abuse with whole-brain imaging and slice electrophysiology to study synaptic adaptations in the brain reward circuitry elicited by cocaine, alcohol, and natural, non-addictive rewards exposures. I will show how induction and maturation of silent synaptic contacts are required for the retention of cocaine-associated memories and what is the function of silent synapses in alcohol relapse in mice models of alcohol use disorder. Lastly, I will describe similarities and differences in circuits and structures involved in natural and addictive reward processing.
In summary, I discovered that all the abovementioned animal models of appetitive learning (remembering positive events) share many commonalities, such as the increase in synaptic efficacy and the appearance of silent excitatory synapses, though elicited in different brain regions. By addressing these common features, my research provides tools to better understand appetitive learning and addiction development.
dr hab. Grażyna Mosieniak