SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

• Dopamine control of social novelty preference is constrained by an interpeduncular-tegmentum circuit 

Molas S#, Freels TG, Zhao-Shea R, Lee T, Gimenez-Gomez P, Barbini M, Martin G and Tapper AR#. (under revision)

• A neuronal coping mechanism linking stress-induced anxiety to motivation for reward

Klenowski PM, Zhao-Shea R, Freels TG, Molas S, Zinter M, M'Angale P, Xiao C, Martinez-Nunez L, Thomson T and Tapper AR. Sci Adv. 2023 Dec. (Pubmed)

• Viral tracing confirms paranigral ventral tegmental area dopaminergic inputs to the interpeduncular nucleus where dopamine release encodes perceived saliency

Molas S*, Zhao-Shea R*, and Tapper AR#. eNeuro. 2023 Jan.  (Pubmed)

• Dynamic activity of interpeduncular nucleus GABAergic neurons controls expression of nicotine withdrawal in male mice

Klenowski PM, Zhao-Shea R, Freels TG, Molas S and Tapper AR. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022 Feb. (Pubmed)

• Midbrain circuits of novelty processing. 

Tapper AR. & Molas S#. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2020 Dec. (Pubmed)

• Midbrain dopamine controls anxiety by engaging unique interpeduncular nucleus microcircuitry. 

DeGroot S, Zhao-Shea R, Cheung L, Klenowski PM, Molas S, Gardner PD, Li Y and Tapper AR. Biol. Psych. 2020 Jun. (Pubmed)

• Integrated miRNA-/mRNA-Seq of the Habenulo-Interpeduncular Circuit During Acute Nicotine Withdrawal 

Casserly AP, Tsuji J, Zhao-Shea R, Smith CB, Molas S, Tapper AR, Weng Z, Gardner PD. Sci Rep. 2020 Jan. (Pubmed)

• A circuit-based mechanism underlying familiarity signaling and the preference for novelty. 

Molas S, Zhao-Shea R, Liu L, DeGroot SR, Gardner PD, Tapper AR. Nat Neurosci. 2017 Sep. (Pubmed)

* This work received a comment in Nature Neuroscience News and Views: Burwell RD & Templer VL. Jamais vu all over again. (Pubmed) 

• Anxiety and Nicotine Dependence: Emerging Role of the Habenulo-Interpeduncular Axis. 

Molas S, DeGroot SR, Zhao-Shea R, Tapper AR. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2017 Feb. (Pubmed)

• Hippocampal changes produced by overexpression of the human CHRNA5/A3/B4 gene cluster may underlie cognitive deficits rescued by nicotine in transgenic mice.

Molas S, Gener T, Güell J, Ballesteros-Yáñez I, Sánchez-Vives M, Dierssen M.  Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2014 Nov. (Pubmed)

• The role of nicotinic receptors in shaping and functioning of the glutamatergic system: a window into cognitive pathology.

Molas S & Dierssen M.  Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Oct. (Pubmed)

• The alpha3beta4* nicotinic ACh receptor subtype mediates physical dependence to morphine: mouse and human studies. 

Muldoon P, Jackson K, Perez E, Harenza J, Molas S, Bisma R, Anwar H, Zaveri N, Maldonado R, Maskos U, McIntosh JM, Dierssen M, Miles M, Chen X, De Biasi M, Damaj I. Br J Pharmacol. 2014 Aug. (Pubmed)

• Transgenic over expression of nicotinic receptor alpha 5, alpha 3 and beta 4 subunit genes reduces ethanol intake in mice. 

Gallego X, Ruiz-Medina J, Valverde O, Molas S, Robles N, Sabrià J, Crabbe JC, Dierssen M. Alcohol. 2012 May. (Pubmed)

• Overexpression of the CHRNA5/A3/B4 genomic cluster in mice increases the sensitivity to nicotine and modifies its reinforcing effects. 

Gallego X, Molas S, Amador-Arjona A, Marks MJ, Robles N, Murtra P, Armengol L, Fernández-Montes RD, Gratacòs M, Pumarola M, Cabrera R, Maldonado R, Sabrià J, Estivill X, Dierssen M. Amino Acids. 2012 Aug. (Pubmed)

• Overexpression of alpha3/alpha5/beta4 nicotinic receptor subunits modifies impulsive-like behavior.

Viñals X, Molas S, Gallego X, Fernández-Montes RD, Robledo P, Dierssen M, Maldonado R. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012 May. (Pubmed)

* This work received a prize for the best Spanish publication in the field of Biomedicine from the Esteve Foundation in 2012.