Abstract
SummaryGoal-directed sensorimotor transformation drives important aspects of mammalian behavior. The striatum is thought to play a key role in reward-based learning and action selection, receiving glutamatergic sensorimotor signals and dopaminergic reward signals. Here, we obtain whole-cell membrane potential recordings from the dorsolateral striatum of mice trained to lick a reward spout after a whisker deflection. Striatal projection neurons showed strong task-related modulation, with more depolarization and action potential firing on hit trials compared to misses. Direct pathway striatonigral neurons, but not indirect pathway striatopallidal neurons, exhibited a prominent early sensory response. Optogenetic stimulation of direct pathway striatonigral neurons, but not indirect pathway striatopallidal neurons, readily substituted for whisker stimulation evoking a licking response. Our data are consistent with direct pathway striatonigral neurons contributing a “go” signal for goal-directed sensorimotor transformation leading to action initiation.Video
Highlights
A key function of the brain is to interpret incoming sensory information in the context of learned associations in order to guide adaptive behavior
The basal ganglia are thought to be involved in action initiation and selection (Alexander and Crutcher, 1990; Graybiel et al, 1994; Grillner et al, 2005; Jin and Costa, 2010; Stephenson-Jones et al, 2011), and their dysfunction is associated with sensorimotor disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (Albin et al, 1989; DeLong, 1990; Kravitz et al, 2010)
The input layer of the basal ganglia, the striatum, receives glutamatergic inputs from various cortical regions and the thalamus, as well as a significant dopaminergic projection, making this structure wellsuited for integration of sensory input with reward signaling to produce appropriate motor output
Summary
A key function of the brain is to interpret incoming sensory information in the context of learned associations in order to guide adaptive behavior. The basal ganglia are thought to be involved in action initiation and selection (Alexander and Crutcher, 1990; Graybiel et al, 1994; Grillner et al, 2005; Jin and Costa, 2010; Stephenson-Jones et al, 2011), and their dysfunction is associated with sensorimotor disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (Albin et al, 1989; DeLong, 1990; Kravitz et al, 2010). The directpathway striatonigral neurons (dSPNs) expressing D1 receptors project to the substantia nigra and are often considered to form part of a ‘‘go’’ signaling pathway for action initiation, whereas the indirect pathway striatopallidal neurons (iSPNs) expressing D2 and A2A receptors project to the external segment of the globus pallidus and are thought to participate in ‘‘no go’’ signals (Durieux et al, 2009; Kravitz et al, 2012; Tai et al, 2012; Freeze et al, 2013). Recent studies have failed to detect differences in the activity patterns of dSPNs versus iSPNs during task performance (Cui et al, 2013), questioning the validity of ‘‘go’’ and ‘‘no go’’ roles for these pathways
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