# Dopamine synapses and operant conditioning

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $45,294

## Abstract

Abstract:
The dopaminergic (DA) synapse has been studied since the 1950s, when it was implicated in motor function,
actions of antipsychotic drugs, and drug abuse. The study of DA synapses has however lagged behind that of
other synapses, due to a lack of means to record dopamine release. To address this, chemical techniques
have been developed, in particular electrochemical recording techniques and fluorescent false
neurotransmitters (FFNs), that provide the first optical measure of neurotransmitter release from individual
presynaptic sites. From these techniques, in some ways, we now know more about DA synapses than any
other in the CNS. Here, we extend the contemporary understanding of DA synapses to reveal their roles in the
interaction of higher organisms with the environment. This is now possible due to technical and conceptual
advances, including the use of techniques novel to this proposal, including FFNs and DA-specific voltage
sensors. This project tests if a) an interaction between sensory-related and reward-related excitation “gates”
local DA release, and whether this is required for normal learning and behavior; b) DA filters excitation by
specific interactions with cannabinoid receptors to mediate decision-making and learning, c) learned behaviors
that become established “refine” synaptic circuits by selectively decreasing local DA activity, and that this
enables future learning. The results of these experiments promise to indicate how addictive drugs such as
amphetamine and opiates act to disrupt the normal operation of these steps.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10062049
- **Project number:** 3R01DA007418-25S1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** David Sulzer
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,294
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1991-07-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10062049

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10062049, Dopamine synapses and operant conditioning (3R01DA007418-25S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10062049. Licensed CC0.

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