Location:
Zhengdong Zhao
Email：[email protected]
Research：Motivated behaviors and related psychiatric diseases
Education
Ph.D., 2013 – 2018 Mentor: Dr. Wei L. Shen Institute of Neuroscience, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences ShanghaiTech University
B.S., 2009 – 2013 Central South University, China
Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher, 04/2019 – 08/2023, Mentor: Dr. Yi Zhang Boston Children’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School / Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Postdoctoral Researcher, 06/2018 – 04/2019, Mentor: Dr. Wei L. Shen ShanghaiTech University
Zhengdong Zhao
Motivated behaviors are fundamental components of vertebrate life. These behaviors control an animal's interactions with goal objects in the environment that are important for the survival of the individual and the species. Appropriate quantities and timing of motivational drives are required for individual survival, however, pathological misdirection of motivational processes causes maladaptive behavioral changes and plays a major role in developing of psychiatric disorders. The Zhao-lab studies motivated behaviors and related psychiatric diseases, such as eating disorders and substance-related addictive disorders. We will cover following topics: 1. feeding behavior and eating disorders; 2. substance/alcohol abuse and related addictive disorders; 3. novel mice behaviors.
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fRgKK8UAAAAJ&hl=en
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Zhao, Z-D., Han, X., Chen, R., Liu, Y., Bhattacherjee, A., Chen, W., Zhang, Y* (2022) A molecularly defined D1 medium spiny neuron subtype negatively regulates cocaine addiction. Science Advances, 8 (32), eabn3552.
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Zhao, Z-D.#, Chen, Z, M.#, Xiang, X, K#. Hu, M. N.#, Xie, H.C., Jia X. N., Cai. F., Cui. Y.T., Chen Z. J., Qian. L. C., Liu. J. S., Shang. C. P., Yang, Y. Q., Ni, X. Y., Li, H. H.*, Shen, W.L.* (2019). Zona incerta GABAergic neurons integrate prey-related sensory signals and induce an appetitive drive to promote hunting. Nature Neuroscience, 22(6), 921-932.
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Zhao, Z-D.#, Yang, W. Z.#, Gao, C., Fu, X., Zhang, W., Zhou, Q., Chen, W., Ni, X., Yang, J., Xu, X. H. & Shen, W.L.* (2017) A hypothalamic circuit that controls body temperature. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114 (8) 2042-2047.
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Zhao, Z-D.#, Zhang, L.#, Xiang, X.#, Kim, D.*, Li, H.*, Cao, P.* and Shen, W.L.* (2023) Neurocircuitry of Predatory Hunting. Neuroscience Bulletin, pp.1-15.
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Xiao, W.#, Jiao, Z.L.#, Senol, E. #, Yao, J.#, Zhao, M.#, Zhao, Z-D.#, Chen, X.*, Cao, P.*, Fu, Y.*, Gao, Z*. and Shen, W.L.* (2022) Neural circuit control of innate behaviors. Science China Life Sciences, pp.1-34.
