Orbitofrontal noradrenaline acts as an early gate for reversal learning Piccin et al. find that surprising rewards trigger brief orbitofrontal noradrenergic bursts whose magnitude predicts reversal learning speed. Targeted manipulation of noradrenergic neurons projecting ...

Very proud to share our most recent work, now out in
@cp-cellreports.bsky.social 🎉🎉🎉

We show that brief noradrenergic signals in the orbitofrontal cortex, triggered by surprising rewards, support reversal learning and predict how quickly animals adapt.

www.cell.com/cell-reports...

a cookie monster is sitting on a tray with plates of food ALT: a cookie monster is sitting on a tray with plates of food

We believe it is important bc:
1) different diets have different impact,
2) this could long-term & long-lasting,
3) sex matters and same diets could have different effects
4) long-term alterations of action control may have consequences on future food choice but also on decision-making in general

a close up of a man 's face with the word rules written in white ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the word rules written in white

We tested using two procedures: contingency reversal and contingency degradation. In both cases we saw that adolescent diet was impairing the process.
But in this case, only the vHFD males were impaired, while both HFD and vHFD-exposed females were impaired. More sex-differences!

ice cube says " actions have consequences " in front of a black background ALT: ice cube says " actions have consequences " in front of a black background

We then tested another important parameter for action control: the mental representation of action-outcome relationships.
In simple term, they know they press because it gives them the food reward. If the rules change and they have a flexible control, they should adapt their behaviour accordingly

Gtv The Voice GIF ALT: Gtv The Voice GIF

Interestingly, HFD exposure during adolescence seems to alters the balance between these 2 control modes as HFD-exposed mice switch to more habitual responses earlier during training than control mice.
This is true for HFD (45%) and vHFD (60%) exposed males but only for vHFD exposed females!

a woman sits at a table with a plate of food on it ALT: a woman sits at a table with a plate of food on it

First we changed the value of the food reward associated with their action by sating them (outcome devaluation). With typical goal-directed control, mice should stop pressing the lever as the food is not desirable anymore, while with habitual control they would continue to press.

a woman sitting at a table with the words i 'm just goal oriented on the bottom ALT: a woman sitting at a table with the words i 'm just goal oriented on the bottom

We then looked at how these mice, once back on normal diet, were flexible in their action control. We used a simple instrumental learning task and check how their behaviour was more goal-directed or habitual.

Sugarrush GIF ALT: Sugarrush GIF

First, we saw that impact on body weight and glucose homeostasis was very diet-dependent but also sex-dependent with females being less vulnerable (at least on these parameters)

a cartoon of winnie the pooh sitting at a table with a plate of food and the words food is here ALT: a cartoon of winnie the pooh sitting at a table with a plate of food and the words food is here

Using mice, we gave them ad lib access to balanced diet (chow) or high fat diet (HFD, 45 or 60% fat content) specifically during adolescence (post natal day 28 to 63).
All our investigations were done at adulthood once mice were back on just healthy diet

So grateful to share the "first" preprint from the lab. Long overdue but I am very happy about the work which has been done in my team.
We explored how the consumption of different obesogenic diets during adolescence was having long-term impact impact goal-directed and habitual behaviours. A thread

Why we have to continue with animal testing for medical research | Letters Letters: Dr Robin Lovell-Badge and Prof Emma Robinson respond to an editorial on using new technologies to reduce the reliance on animal experiments

Why we have to continue with animal testing for medical research | Letters www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Oh hell! You guys too? Support from the North

📢 EBBS Travel Awards for FENS 2026!

EBBS is offering 6 travel grants (PhD students & early postdocs) to attend the FENS Forum 2026 in Barcelona

💸€700 support, in-person participation required

🗓️Deadline: 12 January 2026

More info 👉 www.ebbs-science.org/EBBS_awards#...

Using cutting edge behavioural and circuit neuroscience approaches in mice, you will investigate the impact of sugar consumption during early life on decision-making and brain circuits.
DL for application: 15th Dec 2025.
Please share to anyone interested.

EastBio: Too sweet: how early life sugar consumption shapes brain and behaviour at University of Aberdeen on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - EastBio: Too sweet: how early life sugar consumption shapes brain and behaviour at University of Aberdeen , listed on FindAPhD.com

Possibility for a Eastbio funded PhD in my group at the @rowettinstitute.bsky.social @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social.
This is a highly competitive process: applicants should hold a 1st BSc Honours or 2:1 MSc degree in neuroscience.
A single applicant per project will be interviewed.
shorturl.at/rd669

Entering in my 40s with style.
This year has been bumpy on so many aspects but the continuous support of @katepeters3.bsky.social and this little research trip in Canada have been the highlight!

Excellent talk by @katepeters3.bsky.social, who visited us at @notts-psych.bsky.social today to speak about "Effects of environmental enrichment in reducing food seeking and the role of corticolimbic circuits"

I am attending the #FENS2026 forum in Barcelona next July. And I am over the moon that our symposium with @borglandlab.bsky.social, Serge Luquet and @dr-ahorstmann.bsky.social on "Neurobiological mechanisms on the cognitive control of feeding in the modern food environment" was accepted!

We can have sun (sometime) in the North of Scotland. And the Old @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social campus looks always beautiful.

2) students ls from North America have often more extensive background and experience than a lot UK applicants. So they should not hesitate to reach out the labs/PIs.

In the UK they do not "really" require a MSc to start a PhD. But access to funding through graduate programs is very competitive and committees usually prefer people with MSc degree. That being said 1) this is not true for already funded lab/PhD topic and...

I had the best time at the @hotchkissbrain.bsky.social @ucalgary.bsky.social this last month. Thank you @borglandlab.bsky.social for having me around 🥰😍. I hope it is the start of a long and fruitful collaboration together.

Prefrontal cortex development and its implications in mental illness Neuropsychopharmacology - Prefrontal cortex development and its implications in mental illness

Very nice and detailed review in @npp-journal.bsky.social on "Prefrontal cortex development and its implications in mental illness" from Laura DeNardo and colleagues.

rdcu.be/euCIP

@marionrivalan.bsky.social introducing the very nice initiative of the Behaviour Forum
www.cost-teatime.org/about/thebeh...

@ebbsociety.bsky.social starting 🔥🥵 in Bordeaux

MRC board and panel observer scheme This scheme offers the opportunity for early to mid-career researchers to observe an MRC board or panel funding meeting and how the funding decisions are made.

Spent the last two days as an observer on different grant panel boards. First the MRC @ukri.org then the @wellcometrust.bsky.social .
Enriching and genuinely very informative experience I would recommend especially for young PIs.

www.ukri.org/what-we-do/d...

wellcome.org/research-fun...

Had the best past month having finally @katepeters3.bsky.social in Aberdeen. Both working and enjoying what felt like normal life.
Can't wait to do this again with my partner in crime.

Prelimbic cortical excitatory overdrive and inhibitory underdrive accompany environmental suppression of food seeking - Neuropsychopharmacology Neuropsychopharmacology - Prelimbic cortical excitatory overdrive and inhibitory underdrive accompany environmental suppression of food seeking

How does environmental enrichment affect food seeking? We show reduced cue evoked food seeking following just 24hrs of EE accompanied by cell type specific alterations in the mPFC as well as important contributions of a sucrose cue ensemble #fridayscience

doi.org/10.1038/s413...

We are Kate and Fabien. We are both scientists. We are both bi and in a straight-passing relationship. And we wish you a Happy Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 #queeratwork #queerathome #queerinthelab @katepeters3.bsky.social