The striatum can be divided into striosome and matrix compartments based on the differential expression of several neurochemical markers including the mu-opioid receptor and acetylcholinesterase.  My research in the lab includes studies examining the role of striosome and matrix compartment differences in catecholamine signaling on corticostriatal synaptic plasticity and basal ganglia function using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, electrophysiology, and a number of transgenic mouse models.  A second line of study examines how different patterns of neural activity (e.g. theta-burst pattern or high frequency stimulation) can modulate dopamine and calcium to effect different synaptic plasticity outcomes using two-photon laser-scanning microscopy, electrophysiology, and genetically-encoded calcium sensors.