We endeavor to understand the neurobiology of motivated behavior.

How do we navigate the complex, dynamic environments around us?

In this ever-changing environment, what motivates us to approach what we like and avoid what we don’t?

The ability to do so necessitates the modulation of brain circuits across multiple timescales – slow (across minutes, hours or even days) to facilitate learning and incorporate changes in internal states, and fast (across seconds) to promote vigor, accuracy and performance.

How does the brain integrate these signals across these vastly different timescales to promote motivated behavior?

The Gowrishankar Lab studies neuropeptides, small secretory proteins released broadly throughout the brain, as conduits to integrate these slow and fast signals to promote motivated behavior.