Our research efforts encompass the domain of the behavioral neurosciences, i.e., the attempt to relate behavioral processes to brain functions. We use primarily the rat and mouse as subjects. The current research focuses on the following areas: the development of better animal models of neuropsychiatric diseases, aging-related cognitive decline, in vivo neurochemical mechanisms of psychostimulant (cocaine) action and the synaptology of basal ganglia functions in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Selected Publications： 1. Huston, J.P., de Souza Silva, M.A, Komorowski, M., Schulz, D., Topic, B. (2013) Animal models of extinction-induced depression: Loss of reward and its consequences. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2013 Nov;37(9 Pt A):2059-70. 2. de Souza Silva, M.A., Lenz, B., Rotter, A., Biermann, T., Peters, O., Ramirez, A., Jessen, F., Maier, W., Hüll, M., Schröder, J., Fröhlich, L., Teipel, S., Gruber, O., Kornhuber, J., Huston, J.P., Müller, C.P., Schäble, S. (2013) Neurokinin3 receptor as a target to predict and improve learning and memory in the aged organism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 110(37):15097-102. 3. Huston, J.P., de Souza Silva, M.A, Topic, B., Müller, C.P. (2013) What’s conditioned in conditioned place preference? Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 34(3):162-6. 4. Nikolaus, S., Beu, M., Hautzel, H., de Souza Silva, M.A., Antke, C., Wirrwar, A., Huston, J.P. and Müller, H-W. (2013) Effects of L-DOPA on striatal iodine-123-FP-CIT binding and behavioral parameters in the rat. Nuclear Medicine Communications, 2013 Aug 26. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23982164 。 5. Chao, O.Y., Pum, M.E., Huston, JP. (2013) The interaction between the dopaminergic forebrain projections and the medial prefrontal cortex is critical for memory of objects: Implications for Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol. 247:373-82.