Research is in Progress...

We wanted to thank everyone again for their support. We have been putting our heads down and working hard on research and collecting data. Thanks to the support of our backers we have managed to acquire the lasers (see images) needed to excite and inhibit parts of the brain in real time.

 

Green Laser for Optogenetics

We have collected promising preliminary data to examine how the Orbitofrontal Cortex and the Anterior Insula Cortex are involved in influencing choices. Specifically we are examining how these areas might be involved in tracking particular reward outcomes when those otucomes are uncertain (wins and losses).

 

Green and Blue lasers for Optogenetics research

Developing a better understanding of how and when these different cortical areas influence our choices, whether by encouraging us to be more risky, or pushing us to play it safe, could help provide critical insight into our day to day life. It could also shed light on how risky decision-making can become distorted in cases of drug addiction or gambling disorder.

 

Warming up Blue and Green Lasers in animal operant chambers before testing