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Abi Elerding is a graduate student in the Pharmacology Graduate Program at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on the neural circuits that underlie behavior, with a particular emphasis on their roles in neuromodulation and the molecular basis of diseases. She studies the connectivity and function of these neural circuits, particularly within the mesolimbic system, which is known for governing reward and aversive behaviors. Using advanced techniques such as two-photon calcium imaging, fiber photometry, and optogenetics, Elerding investigates the signaling dynamics and causal roles of molecularly defined neuronal subpopulations in reward learning. Her overarching objective is to uncover the complex interplay between neural dynamics and behaviors that modulate the reward system, with the aim of shedding light on neuropsychiatric disorders such as addiction and depression.
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