Education

PhD in Neuroscience, Pierre and Marie Curie University, France, 2009
Master in Biomedical Research, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain, 2007
Bachelor of Human Biology, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain, 2006

Research interests

I am a neuroscientist and my research interests focus on the neural mechanisms by which subcortical brain circuits encode goal-directed learning. By implementing innovative high-throughput fluorescence microscopy and computational image analysis, I have made several important contributions to the understanding of the functional architecture of the mouse striatum. Besides my work on the most fundamental aspects of striatal functional neuroanatomy, I also investigate how normal ageing negatively impacts specific aspects of learning and motivation in mice.

Funding

2023-2025: NHMRC Ideas Grant, CIA

2022-2024: Tourette Association of America Young Investigator Award

2021-2023: ARC Discovery Project, CIA

2019-2021: ARC Discovery Project, CIB

2019-2021: NHMRC Project Grant, CIB

2017: Australasian Neuroscience Society Paxinos-Watson Award to the most significant paper published by a Society member in 2016

2012: Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation (sole CI)

2011-2012: Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

PUBLICATIONs

Ferguson, L. A., Matamales, M., Nolan, C., Balleine, B. W., & Bertran-Gonzalez, J. (2024). Adaptation of sequential action benefits from timing variability related to lateral basal ganglia circuitry. iScience. Read More.

Bertran-Gonzalez, J., Dinale, C., & Matamales, M. (2023). Restoring the youthful state of striatal plasticity in aged mice re-enables cognitive control of action. Current Biology, 33, 1-11. Read More.

Matamales, M. (2021). How dopamine leads to hallucinations. Science, 372(6537), 33-34. Read More.

Balleine, B. W., Peak, J., Matamales, M., Bertran-Gonzalez, J., & Hart, G. (2021). The dorsomedial striatum: an optimal cellular environment for encoding and updating goal-directed learning. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 41, 38-44. Read More.

Ztaou, S., Oh, S. J., Tepler, S., Fleury, S., Matamales, M., Bertran-Gonzalez, J., Chuhma, N. & Rayport, S. (2021). Single dose of amphetamine induces delayed subregional attenuation of striatal cholinergic interneuron activity. Eneuro, 8(5). Read More.

Balleine, B. W., Peak, J., Matamales, M., Bertran-Gonzalez, J., & Hart, G. (2021). The dorsomedial striatum: an optimal cellular environment for encoding and updating goal-directed learning. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 41, 38-44. Read More.

Matamales M, McGovern AE, Mi JD, Mazzone SB, Balleine BW & Bertran-Gonzalez J (2020) Local D2- to D1-neuron transmodulation updates goal-directed learning in the striatum. Science. 367 (6477):549–555. Read More.

Bradfield LA, Matamales M, Bertran-Gonzalez J (2018) The thalamostriatal pathway and the hierarchical control of action. Neuron 100 (3), 521-523. Read More.

Matamales M, Skrbis Z, Bailey MR, Balsam PD, Balleine BW, Götz J, Bertran-Gonzalez J (2017) A corticostriatal deficit promotes temporal distortion of automatic action in ageing. Elife 6, e29908. Read More.

Nishi A, Matamales M, Musante V, Valjent E, Kuroiwa M, Kitahara Y, Rebholz H, Greengard P, Girault JA, Nairn AC (2017) Glutamate counteracts dopamine/PKA signaling via dephosphorylation of DARPP-32 Ser-97 and alteration of its cytonuclear distribution. Journal of Biological Chemistry 292 (4), 1462-1476. Read More.

Matamales M, Götz J, Bertran-Gonzalez J (2016) Quantitative imaging of cholinergic interneurons reveals a distinctive spatial organization and a functional gradient across the mouse striatum. PloS One 11 (6), e0157682. Read More.

Matamales M, Skrbis Z, Hatch RJ, Balleine BW, Götz J, Bertran-Gonzalez J (2016) Aging-related dysfunction of striatal cholinergic interneurons produces conflict in action selection. Neuron 90 (2), 362-373. Read More.

Matamales M (2012) Neuronal activity-regulated gene transcription: how are distant synaptic signals conveyed to the nucleus? F1000Research 1: 69. Read More.

Matamales M, Girault JA (2011) Signaling from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in striatal medium-sized spiny neurons. Frontiers in neuroanatomy 5. Read More.

Matamales M, Bertran-Gonzalez J, Salomon L, Degos B, Deniau JM, Valjent E, Hervé D, Girault JA (2009) Striatal medium-sized spiny neurons: identification by nuclear staining and study of neuronal subpopulations in BAC transgenic mice. PLoS One 4 (3), e4770. Read More.

Stipanovich A, Valjent E, Matamales M, Nishi A, Ahn JH, Maroteaux M, Bertran-Gonzalez J, Brami-Cherrier K, Enslen H, Corbillé AG, Filhol O, Nairn AC, Greengard P, Hervé D, Girault JA (2008) A phosphatase cascade by which rewarding stimuli control nucleosomal response. Nature 453 (7197), 879-884. Read More.