Exploring the Neural Circuitry of Food Intake, Reward, and Motivation
Welcome to the Hentges Lab
Exploring how the brain drives eating, reward, and motivation
Our lab is passionate about uncovering the neural mechanisms behind food and drug intake. With a deep commitment to reducing suffering and improving well-being, We bring both scientific curiosity and leadership to our research and department.
We invite you to learn more about our work and the people behind it.
Initial information about our lab’s potential and focus:
Our lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to advance our research in neuroscience and molecular biology mice
Optogenetic, Chemogenetic, and Imaging Tools to Explore Brain Function
We use a variety of tools to manipulate and visualize proteins, cells, and transcripts under various conditions.
Food, drugs, and behavior
We take our work from the synaptic to whole animal levels to better understand how synaptic and behavioral changes affect each other.
Whole-cell electrophysiology (patch clamp)
We use this approach to assess how synaptic communication changes in hedonic and homeostatic circuits with feeding state and opioid exposure.