Cracking hypothalamic circuits that drive survival behaviors using novel optical methods

Functional imaging in vivo has become a powerful tool for studying neuronal circuits during behavior. Here we use a microendoscopy system for deep-brain imaging from two distinct lateral hypothalamic neuron populations (i.e. LHPV and LHLEPR). By combining endomicroscopy, genetically encoded calcium indicators, optogenetics, and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that LHPV neurons modulate pain whereas LHLEPR neuronal activity encodes for appetitive behaviors in mice.