Research group Iskra Pollak-Dorocics research group

The immense complexity of the brain emerges from its vast connectivity and cell type diversity. We study the diversity of neuromodulatory neurons and circuits in the brain. By using a combination of molecular and system neuroscience tools to visualize, record and manipulate neural populations, we aim to understand their particular contribution to behavior.


Serotonin and dopamine are two of the main neuromodulators in the brain. The function of these neurons underlies healthy behavior, including motivation, exploration and social behaviors, while imbalances in these circuits are linked to neuropsychiatric illnesses, such as depression and anxiety.

We utilize genetic and molecular profiling, neuroanatomy and connectivity mapping, in vivo imaging of neural activity, and optical neuromanipulation techniques to untangle very specific components of neural circuits, and study their contribution to both healthy brain function and disease.

Find out more by checking the lab website.

The lab welcomes applications for postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and MSc students. Please email iskra.pollak-dorocic@dbb.su.se for inquiries and further information.

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Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Mapping the brain's serotonin pathways increases knowledge of our emotions

Fear and curiosity are emotions that determine how adventurous or cautious we are. But how are our emotions controlled by biological factors in the brain's nerve cells? New research shows that clearly defined serotonin pathways in the brain and their connections to for example amygdala and hypothalamus affect how we feel and act.

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