Our actions are guided by stimuli that we learn to associate with positive (appetitive) or negative (aversive) outcomes, which drive approach or avoidance behaviours respectively. When two possible outcomes are equal in value but opposite in valence (appetitive/aversive), it induces approach-avoidance motivational conflict – should I approach or avoid? Dysregulated responses to approach-avoidance conflict may contribute to compulsive behaviours, identified as repeatedly engaging in actions despite aversive outcomes. This PhD project focuses on understanding how striatal dopamine and serotonin drive approach and avoidance behaviours, and the response to approach-avoidance motivational conflict. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), PhD student Allison McDonald measures real-time dopamine and serotonin release across striatal subregions during approach-avoidance tasks. In this project we also focus on implementing novel FSCV acquisition and analysis techniques.

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