Research Direction

• Neuropsychopharmacology

• Molecular and neural circuit mechanisms of drug addiction and neuromodulatory interventions

Enrollment Major

• Neurobiology

Research Work

The mechanism of drug addiction involves interactions between memory, emotion and motivation circuits. The functional unit of brain information output and memory engram storage is the neuronal ensembles which response to specific time and space. The new research suggests that the maladaptation in the function and circuit of specific neuronal ensembles is closely associated with addiction. Abnormalities in the function and circuits of these neuronal ensembles are closely associated with the onset of addiction. Our focus will be on the effects of addiction-inducing drugs on positive reinforcement (e.g. reward and sensitisation) and negative reinforcement (e.g. aversion and negative emotions associated with withdrawal). We will combine neuronal ensembles labelling techniques with in vivo fibre optic recording, electrophysiological recording, optogenetics, retroviral/retrograde viral tracing, transcriptomics and various quantitative behavioural models of addiction in mice. We will explore intervention strategies targeting these neuronal ensembles, including the development of novel relapse-prevention drugs and the optimisation of neurostimulation techniques such as focused ultrasound (FUS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS). We will also elucidate the molecular, cellular and neural network mechanisms of action of these techniques. Furthermore, we will integrate brain-computer interface technology to construct a closed-loop 'perception-decoding-intervention' system. Real-time decoding of activity in addiction-related neural ensembles will trigger adaptive neural modulation, providing the theoretical foundations and technical pathways for the development of precise and efficient new treatments for addiction and related brain disorders. 

Selected Publications

• Jiang CY*, Huang H, Yang X, Le QM, Liu X, Ma L*, Wang FF*(2024). Targeting mitochondrial dynamics of morphine-responsive dopaminergic neurons ameliorates opiatewithdrawal. The Journal of clinical investigation. 134(5): e171995

• Jiang CY, Yang X, He GH, Wang F, Wang ZL, Xu WD, Mao Y, Ma L*, Wang FF* (2021). CRH^CeA→VTA inputs inhibit the positive ensembles to induce negative effect of opiate withdrawal. Molecular Psychiatry. 26(11): 6170-6186

• Jiang CY, Wang XY, Le QM, Liu PP, Liu C, Wang ZL, He GH, Zheng P, Wang FF*, Ma L*(2021). Morphine coordinates SST and PV interneurons in the prelimbic cortex to disinhibit pyramidal neurons and enhance reward. Molecular Psychiatry. 26(4): 1178–1193. (ESI Neuroscience & Behavior前1%高被引论文)

• He GH#, Huai ZQ#, Jiang CY#, Huang B, Tian Z, Le QM, Fan GY, Li HB, Wang FF, Ma L*, Liu X* (2023). Persistent increase of accumbens cocaine ensemble excitability induced by IRK downregulation after withdrawal mediates the incubation of cocaine craving. Molecular Psychiatry. 28(1): 448-462

• Shen MJ, Jiang CY, Liu PP, Wang FF*, Ma L* (2016). Mesolimbic leptin signaling negatively regulates cocaine-conditioned reward. Translational Psychiatry. 6(12): e972