CSI-CSI: Comparing several investigative approaches toward crime scene improvement.

Crime scene investigations are highly complex environments that require the CSI to engage in complex decision-making. CSIs must rely on personal experience, context information, and scientific knowledge about the fundamental principles of forensic science to both find and correctly interpret ambiguous traces and accurately reconstruct a scene. Differences in CSI decision making can arise in multiple stages of a crime scene investigation.

Optogenetic Stimulation of the Central Amygdala Using Channelrhodopsin.

Optogenetics allows for the targeted temporary inhibition or stimulation of specific brain regions in vivo with precise temporal resolution. Here, we describe the steps to perform intracranial optogenetic surgery in rodents as well as instructions to build an optogenetic headcap and set up an optogenetic testing environment to conduct experiments. Behavioral studies have implemented these methods to stimulate the central amygdala (CeA) to create an addictive-like preference for reward.

Reward uncertainty attributes incentive value to reward proximal cues, while amphetamine sensitization reverts attention to more predictive reward distal cues.

Slot-machine gambling incorporates numerous audiovisual cues prior to and during reward delivery (e.g. spinning wheels, flashing lights, celebratory sounds).

Distinguishing between predictive and incentive value of uncertain gambling-like cues in a Pavlovian autoshaping task.

The flashing lights and celebratory sounds that dominate slot-machine gambling are believed to promote engagement and motivation to keep playing. However, these cues are often presented in the absence of reward, and previous research suggests that this reward uncertainty, which degrades their predictive value, also increases their incentive value. Here, we used autoshaping to tease apart the impact of reward uncertainty on the predictive and incentive value of a conditioned stimulus (CS) using serial cues.