Abstract

The Lateral Habenula (LHb) is a small but highly conserved brain structure across the vertebrate lineage. Over the past decade, a growing body of evidence has demonstrated that the LHb plays a crucial role in encoding aversive experiences. However, despite this progress, the mechanisms through which LHb-encoded information influences learning processes remain largely unknown. In this seminar, I will present our previous research on how the LHb regulates negative associative learning, shedding light on its role in shaping behavioral responses. Additionally, I will discuss our future research directions, aiming to uncover how Fear Generalization is controlled by the LHb..

Affiliation and short bio

Joaquin Piriz completed his Ph.D. at the Instituto Cajal in Madrid. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, he joined the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) in Argentina as an Investigator. Recently, he relocated his laboratory to the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience in Bilbao. Dr. Piriz’s research focuses on understanding the brain circuits involved in fear learning and how dysregulation of these processes contributes to pathological conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression focusing on a aversion encoding structure, the Lateral Habenula

Related publications with the topic 

A novel role for the lateral habenula in fear learning. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022.

Reward and aversion encoding in the lateral habenula for innate and learned behaviours. Transl Psychiatry. 2022.

Lateral Habenula determines long-term storage of aversive memories. Front Behav Neurosci. 2014.