Study on the regulatory mechanisms for behavioral and learning choices by the habenula

Research Project Outline

The habenula occupies bilatelally the most dorsal part of the diencephalon and relays the telencephalic limbic system with the monoaminergic neurons in the midbrain and the hindbrain. Taking advantage of the conservation of the habenula from fish to mammals, we use zebrafish, rat and mouse to reveal the functional roles of the habenula as a switchboard for the choices of behaviors based on the judgement of the emotional values of given situations. Our research may lead to the understanding of the etiology of psychiatric disorders such as the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the savant syndrome which abnormally enables memorization of objects irrespective of their values.