Welcome to the Lerner Lab
The Lerner Lab studies how brain circuits involved in motivation, learning, and decision-making shape behavior, with a focus on dopamine and its role in mental health. The lab investigates how risk factors for psychiatric disorders, such as a history of stress or changes in hormones, can affect how people make decisions and how the brain responds to challenges.
A key focus is understanding how the brain’s ability to learn from experience and predict what will happen – a valuable survival skill – can also contribute to vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Using measures of brain cell communication and neural activity, along with tools that precisely control brain circuits, the lab studies how the brain adapts decision-making, depending on the current environment and internal body signals, to balance competing needs: seeking essential resources such as food and water while responding to and avoiding potential threats.
Welcome to the Lerner Lab
The Lerner Lab studies how brain circuits involved in motivation, learning, and decision-making shape behavior, with a focus on dopamine and its role in mental health. The lab investigates how risk factors for psychiatric disorders, such as a history of stress or changes in hormones, can affect how people make decisions and how the brain responds to challenges.
A key focus is understanding how the brain’s ability to learn from experience and predict what will happen – a valuable survival skill – can also contribute to vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Using measures of brain cell communication and neural activity, along with tools that precisely control brain circuits, the lab studies how the brain adapts decision-making, depending on the current environment and internal body signals, to balance competing needs: seeking essential resources such as food and water while responding to and avoiding potential threats.
1.
Research focus
How differences in dopamine circuits shape motivation and learning.
2.
Approaches
Behavior, optogenetics, photometry, imaging, electrophysiology, and sequencing.
3.
Translation
Toward better treatments for addiction, depression, and Parkinson’s disease.
We thank the following organizations for funding our research
Dopamine subcircuits
Dopamine is not one system but many. We study the computational roles of distinct dopamine subcircuits in reinforcement learning, decision-making, and habit formation.
Fiber photometry of dopamine signals during behavior.
Circuit architecture of striatonigrostriatal loops.
Individual differences in compulsive reward seeking.
Dopamine subcircuits
Dopamine is not one system but many. We study the computational roles of distinct dopamine subcircuits in reinforcement learning, decision-making, and habit formation.
Fiber photometry of dopamine signals during behavior.
Circuit architecture of striatonigrostriatal loops.
Individual differences in compulsive reward seeking.
Stress and dopamine
A properly functioning dopamine system is vital for mental health. We examine how stress, from early development through adulthood, reshapes dopamine circuit structure and function.
Developmental stress and dopamine circuit wiring.
Stress hormone signaling in adult dopamine function.
Sex-specific mechanisms of stress.
Stress and dopamine
A properly functioning dopamine system is vital for mental health. We examine how stress, from early development through adulthood, reshapes dopamine circuit structure and function.
Developmental stress and dopamine circuit wiring.
Stress hormone signaling in adult dopamine function.
Sex-specific mechanisms of stress.
Parkinsonian neurodegeneration
Parkinson’s disease targets dopamine neurons. We study how their gradual loss alters specific, interacting dopamine subcircuits, focusing on the earliest stages of disease.
Models of early disease progression in mice.
Dopamine neuron heterogeneity across disease progression.
Toward earlier detection and better treatment of non-motor symptoms.
Parkinsonian neurodegeneration
Parkinson’s disease targets dopamine neurons. We study how their gradual loss alters specific, interacting dopamine subcircuits, focusing on the earliest stages of disease.
Models of early disease progression in mice.
Dopamine neuron heterogeneity across disease progression.
Toward earlier detection and better treatment of non-motor symptoms.
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Dopamine subcircuits
Dopamine is not one system but many. We study the computational roles of distinct dopamine subcircuits in reinforcement learning, decision-making, and habit formation.
Fiber photometry of dopamine signals during behavior.
Circuit architecture of striatonigrostriatal loops.
Individual differences in compulsive reward seeking.
Basic science, translational impact.
15
Current lab members
28
Lab alumni
33
Publications and preprints
2017
Lab founded
Joining the lab
Thinking about joining? Here is where things stand right now. Full details are on the Join Us page.
Are you accepting postdocs?
Not at this time. You may inquire if you are interested in a position starting in 2028 or later. We are especially interested in experience with slice or in vivo electrophysiology, in vivo 2-photon or miniscope imaging, and computational approaches.
Are you accepting graduate students?
The Lerner Lab plans to accept graduate students beginning in Fall 2028. Students will be admitted through the University of Toronto (Pharmacology, Physiology, or IMS). Please inquire if interested.
Can undergraduates join the lab?
Not until further notice. New undergraduates will be admitted to the lab after our move to the Temerty Discovery Centre located at the CAMH Queen Street Campus. Undergraduates will need to commit to at least 10 hours per week of in-person time at this site.
Are there research technician positions?
The Lerner Lab will be hiring 2-3 research technicians beginning in 2028. Research technicians will have completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and have a strong interest in pursuing graduate level research.
Are you accepting postdocs?
Not at this time. You may inquire if you are interested in a position starting in 2028 or later. We are especially interested in experience with slice or in vivo electrophysiology, in vivo 2-photon or miniscope imaging, and computational approaches.
Are you accepting graduate students?
The Lerner Lab plans to accept graduate students beginning in Fall 2028. Students will be admitted through the University of Toronto (Pharmacology, Physiology, or IMS). Please inquire if interested.
Can undergraduates join the lab?
Not until further notice. New undergraduates will be admitted to the lab after our move to the Temerty Discovery Centre located at the CAMH Queen Street Campus. Undergraduates will need to commit to at least 10 hours per week of in-person time at this site.
Are there research technician positions?
The Lerner Lab will be hiring 2-3 research technicians beginning in 2028. Research technicians will have completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and have a strong interest in pursuing graduate level research.
Join the Lerner Lab
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
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