Optogenetics in animal model of alcohol addiction

Our understanding of neuronal and molecular basis of alcohol addiction is still not satisfactory. One of the reasons for such state is the lack of appropriate animal models which would allow for in-depth analysis of biological basis of addiction. Here we will present our efforts to create the animal model of alcohol addiction in the automated learning devise, the IntelliCage setup. Applying this model to optogenetically modified mice with remotely controlled regulation of selected neuronal populations, will allow for very precise identification of neuronal circuits involved in coding addiction-related behaviours.