Preston Chan
Research Mentor(s): Ada Eban-Rothschild
Mentor Department: Psychology
Authors: Preston Chan, Arpit Pradhan, Ada Eban-Rothschild
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 9
Abstract
Sleep is a state during which external sensory processing is reduced, yet certain stimuli can still elicit neural and behavioral responses. While previous studies have focused on how the brain selectively processes behaviorally relevant sounds during sleep, the role of dopaminergic neurons in encoding negative valence stimuli remains unclear. Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA-DA) are well known for their role in salience processing during wakefulness, but whether they encode aversive auditory stimuli during sleep is yet to be explored. This study aims to investigate whether VTA-DA neurons process the negative valence of sounds during sleep using a behavioral paradigm that mimics predator-prey interactions. To establish a negative-valence association, we will introduce a robotic system into the home cage of mice following an auditory cue. The robot will be equipped with an air-puff module containing a CO2 canister, which will release air puffs onto the mouse, creating an aversive experience. The mice will learn to associate the auditory cue with pressing a lever to escape the arena, reinforcing the sound’s negative valence. To examine how VTA-DA neurons respond to negatively valenced sounds during sleep, we will replay the learned aversive sound along with a neutral control sound while simultaneously recording VTA-DA neuronal activity and sleep polysomnography (EEG/EMG). By analyzing neural responses to these auditory stimuli across different sleep stages, we aim to determine whether VTA-DA neurons selectively encode negative valence information during sleep. This project, which effectively integrates robotics, automation, and behavioral neuroscience, provides a novel approach to studying predator-prey interactions in a controlled setting. Understanding whether the dopaminergic system encapsulates negative valence during sleep will offer key insights into how the brain processes emotionally salient information and its potential role in sleep-dependent learning and memory.
