One of the core questions driving NGP labs is how the nervous system can influence complex behaviors and mental processes. Specific research topics include the neural basis of motivation and reward processing as it relates to feeding behavior and drug addiction, the nervous system’s regulation of circadian rhythms, and the neural basis of human social behavior. Defining the neural correlates of behavior and cognition will lend key insight into the treatment of some of society's most pernicious disorders. We’ve optimized and implemented a range of cutting edge techniques including behavioral assays, functional neuroimaging, pharmacological manipulations, optogenetics, viral vectors, genomics, and more.