Adam Carter

Neural circuits underlying cognitive and motivated behaviors.

Our lab studies neurons, synapses and circuits in the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, striatum, and related brain regions. These diverse networks contribute to high-level brain function, including cognitive and motivated behaviors. Dysfunction of these areas is also linked to disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and drug addiction. We broadly study how different populations of neurons communicate in their local and long-range networks. We also examine how specific neurons and synapses are regulated by dopamine and other neuromodulators. Finally, we determine how these distinct circuits are engaged during rewarding and aversive behaviors. Our experiments make use of a combination of electrophysiology, two-photon microscopy, and optogenetics, both in vivo and ex vivo. We also take advantage of genetic tools, including viruses and transgenics, to characterize and manipulate specific neurons and connections.

Anastasiades PG*, Collins DP* and Carter AG (2021) Mediodorsal and ventromedial thalamus engage distinct L1 circuits in the prefrontal cortex, Neuron 109(2):314-330. Pubmed PDF

Liu X, Dimidschstein J, Fishell G and Carter AG (2020) Hippocampal inputs engage CCK+ interneurons to mediate endocannabinoid-modulated feed-forward inhibition in the prefrontal cortex, eLife 2020;9:e55267. Pubmed PDF

Baimel C, McGarry LM and Carter AG (2019) The projection targets of medium spiny neurons govern cocaine-evoked synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens, Cell Reports 28(9): 2256-2263. Pubmed

Anastasiades PG, Boada C and Carter AG (2019) Cell-type specific D1 dopamine receptor modulation of projection neurons and interneurons in the prefrontal cortex, Cerebral Cortex 29(7): 3224-3242. Pubmed

Scudder SL, Baimel C, Macdonald EE and Carter AG (2018) Hippocampal-evoked feed-forward inhibition in the nucleus accumbens, J. Neurosci. 38(42): 9091-9104. Pubmed

Liu X and Carter AG (2018) Ventral hippocampus inputs preferentially drive cortico-cortical neurons in the infralimbic prefrontal cortex, J. Neurosci. 38(33): 7351-7363. Pubmed

Collins DP*, Anastasiades PG*, Marlin JJ and Carter AG (2018) Reciprocal circuits linking the prefrontal cortex with dorsal and ventral thalamic nuclei, Neuron 98: 366-379. *equal contributions. Pubmed