Dissociable roles of distinct thalamic circuits in learning reaches to spatial targets
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Reaching movements are critical for survival, and are learned and controlled by distributed motor networks. Even though the thalamus is a highly interconnected node in these networks, its role in learning and controlling reaches remains underexplored. We report dissociable roles of two thalamic forelimb circuits coursing through parafascicular (Pf) and ventroanterior/ventrolateral (VAL) nuclei in refining reaches to a spatial target. Using 2-photon calcium imaging as mice learn directional reaches, we observe high reach-related activity from both circuits early in learning, which decreases with learning. Pf activity encodes reach direction early in learning, more so than VAL. Consistently, bilateral lesions of Pf before training impairs refinement of reach direction. Pre-training lesions of VAL does not affect reach direction, but increases reach speed and target overshoot. Lesions of either nucleus after training does not affect the execution of learned reaches. These findings reveal different thalamic circuits governing distinct aspects of learned reaches.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Topic: Motor Control and Adaptation
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: Unraveling constraints on motor cortical activity exploration and shaping during structural skill learning using large-scale 2-photon imaging and holographic optogenetic stimulation, G1240450420, Dissecting corticostriatal circuit involvement in action learning through reinforcement, Dissecting the role of thalamostriatal circuits in flexible versus automatized motor skill execution, G2868974184, G2870471808, Computational and circuit mechanisms underlying motor control, G3844816011, G3871785567, Connectivity Principles Underlying Network Dynamics and Learning, Reinforcement learning and action sequencing in subcortical and cortical circuits, G5227302354, Dissecting corticostriatal circuit involvement in motor learning through reinforcement, G6512736978, G6700464381, G7183200826, Dissecting the role of cortico-basal ganglia circuit diversity in action learning from reinforcement, G8327600415
OpenAlex ID: W4408853898