# Long-range and local connectivity of cholinergic interneurons in the nucleus accumbens

> **NIH NIH F30** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $53,974

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a critical center for controlling reward-related and motivated behaviors, and
becomes disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders such as drug addiction and depression. The NAc consists of a
core (NAcCore) and surrounding medial shell (NAcMS), each of which integrates distinct excitatory inputs from
a wide range of brain areas. These NAc subregions contain a variety of cells, most of which are GABAergic, with
the exception of cholinergic interneurons (CINs). Through the release of acetylcholine, CINs can powerfully
modulate the local network to impact the output of the NAc. However, the ability of CINs to receive and process
different long-range excitatory inputs is largely unexplored in the NAc. To understand the circuit mechanisms of
normal and pathological behavior, it is necessary to study the synaptic organization of CINs in the NAc in a
subregion- and input-specific manner. Here I use a combination of viral tracing methods, slice electrophysiology,
and optogenetics in transgenic mice to establish the synaptic organization of CINs in the NAc. Aim 1 will identify
which brain regions and local striatal cells synapse onto CINs in both the NAcMS and NAcCore. Aim 2 will
assess how different types of long-range inputs contact and influence the firing of CINs in each NAc subregion.
Aim 3 will test how different GABAergic interneurons mediate feed-forward inhibition of CINs to regulate their
activity. Together, these experiments will provide critical insights into the synaptic organization of CINs within
the NAc and how different inputs drive unique patterns of activity. This work is necessary for understanding how
the NAc integrates converging inputs containing information about motivational drive, reward value, and
attention, and ultimately how the circuitry of this key reward center is disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10745653
- **Project number:** 5F30MH129055-03
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily Jang
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $53,974
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-12-10 → 2024-12-09

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10745653

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10745653, Long-range and local connectivity of cholinergic interneurons in the nucleus accumbens (5F30MH129055-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10745653. Licensed CC0.

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