Work

Distinct recruitment of dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum erodes with extended training

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Hypotheses of striatal orchestration of behavior ascribe distinct functions to striatal subregions, with the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) especially implicated in habitual and skilled performance. Thus neural activity patterns recorded from the DLS, but not the dorsomedial striatum (DMS), should be correlated with habitual and automatized performance. Here, we recorded DMS and DLS neural activity in rats during training in a task promoting habitual lever pressing. Despite improving performance across sessions, clear changes in corresponding neural activity patterns were not evident in DMS or DLS during early training. Although DMS and DLS activity patterns were distinct during early training, their activity was similar following extended training. Finally, performance after extended training was not associated with DMS disengagement, as would be predicted from prior work. These results suggest that behavioral sequences may continue to engage both striatal regions long after initial acquisition, when skilled performance is consolidated.

Source: eLife

DOI: 10.7554/elife.49536

Authors: Youna Vandaele, Nagaraj R Mahajan, David J Ottenheimer, Jocelyn M Richard, Shreesh P Mysore, Patricia H Janak

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Minnesota

Language: English

Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,500