Student Identifies Neurons Related to Addictive Behavior

Tell us about your research project and the biomedical issue your work addressed.

Although addiction affects tens of millions of people in the U.S., we still lack effective treatments and an understanding of the brain mechanisms involved. One common characteristic in addicted individuals is continued drug-seeking behaviors despite the experience of negative consequences or the loss of rewarding effects. Dr. Choi's lab studies compulsive reward-seeking in model systems and examines treatment candidates for restoring behavioral control. 

In preclinical studies, I identified a novel function of a circuit of neurons that exists between two regions of the brain, one called the external globus pallidus, which plays a role in action-selection; and the other called the dorsolateral striatum, an area that controls compulsive behavior. We found that these neurons in mice show distinct firing patterns during compulsive reward-seeking. We also saw that loss of function in the neurons led to an increase in compulsive behaviors, while activation of these neurons led to decreased reward-seeking behaviors. These patterns may provide the field with a novel therapeutic strategy to address addiction.

What were some of the innovative technologies at Mayo that helped further your research?

I had access to several advanced neuroscience techniques to investigate brain function in models of addiction. One was a genetic calcium sensor that fluoresces with light when neurons activate. The fluorescence is then detected with fiber optics. Our research also involves many resources available through Mayo's core facilities, including the Microscopy and Omics cores.

What opportunities at Mayo did you take advantage of to further your leadership skills and your career?

Mayo provides numerous opportunities and resources for graduate students to explore a variety of career paths. I did an internship with Mayo Clinic's Office of Clinical Trials where I learned about all the components and processes involved in carrying out large-scale clinical trials and human subjects research. I've also had the opportunity to connect with Mayo's technology transfer office at Mayo Clinic Ventures. These experiences have led me to remain at Mayo Clinic for a postdoctoral fellowship position with neurosurgeon Kai Miller, M.D., Ph.D., studying brain circuits in the basal ganglia and learning about the use of approaches such as neurostimulation to address other complex neurological disorders.

Learn more

Read more about Dr. Baker's work in Discovery's Edge magazine: "Preclinical research identifies brain circuit connected to addictive behaviors."