Research Description: The mesolimbic system is not only essential for learning and motivation-associated behaviors, but it is also affected and remodeled by addictive drugs. GABA neurons in the VTA provide local inhibition of dopamine neurons. In our lab, we use a combination of electrophysiology, pharmacogenetic and optogenetic manipulations to study how VTA GABA neurons regulate reward and aversion-related learning.
![Jie Wu](https://brightspotcdn.byu.edu/dims4/default/300ece9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/145x145+0+0/resize/200x200!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrigham-young-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F8b%2F311bd1294add9265166dc5e64ee1%2Fjiewu.jpg)
Jie (Bridget) Wu
PhD Student
Edwards Lab - Past Graduate Student