Interactions of Psychostimulant-Induced Striatal Dopamine and Astrocyte Activity

Location

PANEL: Biomedical Applications
Science Center A154
Moderator: Abby Aresty

Document Type

Presentation - Oberlin Community Only

Start Date

5-1-2026 3:30 PM

End Date

5-1-2026 4:30 PM

Abstract

A hallmark of stimulant drugs like cocaine or amphetamine is their ability to increase hyperlocomotion, or excessive, incessant movement. The cause for this is not entirely clear, but it does seem to be associated with drug-induced alteration in the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine, as well as astrocytes, a type of glial cell. Dopamine is responsible for reward and motor control in the brain, and astrocytes support neurons both metabolically and structurally. This project uses fiber photometry to monitor amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotive behavior in real-time in freely-moving mice to learn exactly what occurs in the striatum, a brain region that governs voluntary action selection, during hyperlocomotion. This data was then analyzed using programming tools. Expected findings include a possible link between astrocyte and dopamine activity, altered dopamine activity post-drug, and altered astrocyte activity post-drug. This work is important, as hyperlocomotive behavior is a hallmark of stimulant abuse, a disorder that, in 2022, affected 4.5 million people. Investigating the neural correlates of this behavior could provide deeper knowledge into what causes stimulant abuse disorder, which would then inform potential treatments. While there are studies that have explored hyperlocomotive results related to a loss of dopamine or astrocyte function, there is still a gap regarding what exactly happens to their activity in real-time during this behavior, something this project aims to fill. Past its clinical impacts, this research will inform our existing knowledge on dopamine’s role in behavior, a burning question in the field of neuroscience.

Keywords:

Dopamine, Astrocytes, Striatum, Stimulants

Notes

Presenters: Selena Frantz and Danika Cade

Access to the full-text abstract and slides is available to Oberlin College users only.

Major

Neuroscience; Law and Society

Project Mentor(s)

Chris Howard, Neuroscience
Tracie Paine, Neuroscience
Monica Olszens, Neuroscience

2026

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May 1st, 3:30 PM May 1st, 4:30 PM

Interactions of Psychostimulant-Induced Striatal Dopamine and Astrocyte Activity

PANEL: Biomedical Applications
Science Center A154
Moderator: Abby Aresty

A hallmark of stimulant drugs like cocaine or amphetamine is their ability to increase hyperlocomotion, or excessive, incessant movement. The cause for this is not entirely clear, but it does seem to be associated with drug-induced alteration in the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine, as well as astrocytes, a type of glial cell. Dopamine is responsible for reward and motor control in the brain, and astrocytes support neurons both metabolically and structurally. This project uses fiber photometry to monitor amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotive behavior in real-time in freely-moving mice to learn exactly what occurs in the striatum, a brain region that governs voluntary action selection, during hyperlocomotion. This data was then analyzed using programming tools. Expected findings include a possible link between astrocyte and dopamine activity, altered dopamine activity post-drug, and altered astrocyte activity post-drug. This work is important, as hyperlocomotive behavior is a hallmark of stimulant abuse, a disorder that, in 2022, affected 4.5 million people. Investigating the neural correlates of this behavior could provide deeper knowledge into what causes stimulant abuse disorder, which would then inform potential treatments. While there are studies that have explored hyperlocomotive results related to a loss of dopamine or astrocyte function, there is still a gap regarding what exactly happens to their activity in real-time during this behavior, something this project aims to fill. Past its clinical impacts, this research will inform our existing knowledge on dopamine’s role in behavior, a burning question in the field of neuroscience.