Article
Psychiatry
Akhil Sharma, Arman Harutyunyan, Bernard L. Schneider, Anna Moszczynska
Summary: The study found that rats overexpressing PARKIN gene have stronger self-administration ability for METH, while rats with PARKIN knockout are more prone to self-administer METH. This result provides useful models for studying the neural substrates underlying resilience or vulnerability to METH use disorder and identifies PARKIN as a novel potential drug target for treating heavy use of METH.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jaeeon Lee, Bernardo L. Sabatini
Summary: The study reveals that indirect striatal projection neurons in the basal ganglia contribute to action selection and exploration by modulating the superior colliculus, highlighting a competitive interaction between hemispheres of the superior colliculus in triggering motor actions.
Article
Neurosciences
Suthinee Attachaipanich, Takaaki Ozawa, Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikidap
Summary: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a crucial part of the limbic basal ganglia circuit and is associated with decision-making and reward processing. This study investigated the effects of optogenetic manipulation of the NAc D1-MSN-SNr pathway on reward learning and locomotor behavior in male mice. The results showed that stimulation of this pathway induced a preference for a laser-paired location, self-stimulation, and enhanced instrumental responding for a liquid reward. Furthermore, stimulation increased locomotor behavior when delivered bilaterally and induced contralateral turning behavior when delivered unilaterally. However, inhibition of this pathway had no effect on reward-related behaviors or locomotion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Faezeh Tashakori-Sabzevar, Nico Vautrelle, Yiwen Zheng, Paul F. Smith
Summary: This study investigates the effects of electrical stimulation of the peripheral vestibular system on electrophysiological responses in the tail of the rat striatum. Clear triphasic local field potentials (LFPs) were evoked in the bilateral tail of the striatum, with the LFP amplitude increasing with increasing current amplitude. The results suggest a connection between the vestibular system and the tail of the striatum, possibly through the vestibular nucleus or cerebellum and the parafasicular nucleus of the thalamus.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Dan P. Covey, Edith Hernandez, Miguel A. Lujan, Joseph F. Cheer
Summary: The study found that dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens responds differently to cues signaling increasing cost of reward. Endocannabinoid signaling facilitates goal-seeking and nucleus accumbens dopamine release, while chronic MAGL treatment stably facilitates goal-seeking and dopamine encoding without the development of tolerance.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Akshay Nair, Eileanoir B. Johnson, Sarah Gregory, Katherine Osborne-Crowley, Paul Zeun, Rachael I. Scahill, Jessica Lowe, Marina Papoutsi, Stefano Palminteri, Robb B. Rutledge, Geraint Rees, Sarah J. Tabrizi
Summary: The study found that individuals carrying the Huntington's disease gene for more than 25 years before motor onset exhibited exaggerated striatal responses to gain-predicting stimuli compared to loss-predicting stimuli. Additionally, group differences were observed in the striatal representation of stimulus value. These findings suggest early functional imaging differences between HD gene carriers and control subjects.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY-COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yunan Wu, Pierre Besson, Emanuel A. Azcona, S. Kathleen Bandt, Todd B. Parrish, Hans C. Breiter, Aggelos K. Katsaggelos
Summary: The relationship between brain structure and cognitive function is complex, and differences between childhood and adulthood are not well understood. A novel graph convolutional neural network was developed to analyze brain morphology and predict fluid intelligence (Gf). The study found that the morphology of certain brain structures, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens, along with cortical regions, consistently drove the prediction of Gf. This suggests a significant reframing of the relationship between brain morphology and cognitive function.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
S. Petryszyn, L. Saidi, D. Gagnon, A. Parent, M. Parent
Summary: The study investigated the changes in morphology and distribution of striatal interneurons expressing calretinin in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. It found that medium-sized calretinin-positive interneurons are specifically targeted by dopamine denervation, while small and intensely immunoreactive calretinin-positive cells remain unaffected. These results suggest that the expression of calretinin may play a protective role against altered corticostriatal transmission in Parkinson's disease.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Natalia Lopez-Gonzalez del Rey, Miguel Angel Garcia-Cabezas
Summary: This review article summarizes the developmental, cellular, structural, and connectional features of the primate striatum and relates them to patterns of neurodegeneration in humans and non-human primate models. By understanding the primate anatomy and its relation to human pathology, new insights into the molecular, cellular, and connectional factors underlying the degeneration of striatal neurons and circuits can be gained. The article provides an overview of the types of neurons, cyto-, myelo-, and chemoarchitecture, developmental origin, organization of corticostriatal projections, and the topography and time-course of neurodegenerative diseases in both humans and non-human primates.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Allison E. Carney, Caitlin Clarke, Wayne E. Pratt
Summary: Previous research has shown that both dopamine and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) play a role in motivated behavior, potentially through interaction within the neural circuitry related to motivation. This study aimed to further understand the relationship between NAc NPY and dopamine and their effects on motivated behavior. The findings suggest that NPY in the NAc shell can improve motivational impairments caused by dopamine antagonism, and these effects are specific to the site of injection. These results imply that increasing NPY expression in neurodegenerative diseases may help alleviate early motivational deficits caused by dopamine depletion.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Su Hyoun Park, Anne K. Baker, Vinit Krishna, Sean C. Mackey, Katherine T. Martucci
Summary: The brain corticostriatal circuits play a crucial role in understanding chronic pain. In this study, the authors investigated the connectivity of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) - medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) circuit in patients with fibromyalgia. They found that the connectivity of this circuit was significantly reduced in fibromyalgia patients compared to healthy controls. The connectivity between the NAcc and subcortical brain regions was also reduced in fibromyalgia. These findings provide novel evidence of altered corticostriatal and mesolimbic circuits in chronic pain.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ioannis Zalachoras, Eva Ramos-Fernandez, Fiona Hollis, Laura Trovo, Joao Rodrigues, Alina Strasser, Olivia Zanoletti, Pascal Steiner, Nicolas Preitner, Lijing Xin, Simone Astori, Carmen Sandi
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial function and metabolism in the nucleus accumbens are important for motivated performance. The level of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in the nucleus accumbens is closely associated with an individual's capacity to exert reward-incentivized effort over time. Increasing accumbal GSH levels may be a feasible approach to enhance motivation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing He, Michael Kleyman, Jianjiao Chen, Aydin Alikaya, Kathryn M. Rothenhoefer, Bilge Esin Ozturk, Morgan Wirthlin, Andreea C. Bostan, Kenneth Fish, Leah C. Byrne, Andreas R. Pfenning, William R. Stauffer
Summary: This study identified at least nine subtypes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum of Rhesus monkeys, showing greater heterogeneity than previously thought at the transcriptional level. Each MSN subtype was characterized by discontinuities in gene expression, but continuous variation within subtypes corresponded to anatomical locations and potential functional specializations.
Article
Neurosciences
Adam Gordon-Fennell, Garret D. Stuber
Summary: Studies have revealed generalizable findings across molecularly defined cell types in areas of the basal forebrain and anterior hypothalamus. Optogenetic stimulation of GABAergic neurons in these brain regions drives reward, while optogenetic stimulation of glutamatergic neurons in these regions drives aversion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emil Warnberg, Arvind Kumar
Summary: This article discusses the role of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia and how to explain how dopamine supports learning of continuous outputs instead of discrete action values. The authors propose a model and demonstrate its validity through a learning rule.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James E. McCutcheon, Mitchell F. Roitman
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Review
Neurosciences
Fabien Naneix, Kate Z. Peters, James E. McCutcheon
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jeffrey T. Dunn, Jessica Mroczek, Harsh R. Patel, Michael E. Ragozzino
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Fabien Naneix, Kate Z. Peters, Andrew M. J. Young, James E. McCutcheon
Summary: Protein restriction has varying effects on dopamine pathways in the rat brain, with increased release in the nucleus accumbens during adulthood, decreased release during adolescence, and a frequency-dependent increase in the dorsal striatum when restricted during adolescence. These results highlight the sensitivity and vulnerability of dopamine pathways to protein restriction at different life stages.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Dimitri Ryczko, Swantje Gratsch, Michael H. Alpert, Jackson J. Cone, Jacquelin Kasemir, Angelina Ruthe, Philippe-Antoine Beausejour, Francois Auclair, Mitchell F. Roitman, Simon Alford, Rejean Dubuc
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Jackson J. Cone, Morgan L. Bade, Nicolas Y. Masse, Elizabeth A. Page, David J. Freedman, John H. R. Maunsell
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Kate Z. Peters, Andrew M. J. Young, James E. McCutcheon
Summary: This study investigated VTA neuronal activity during distraction, finding consistent increases in VTA neural responses to distractor stimuli. These data highlight the complex role of the VTA in maintaining behaviors while monitoring the environment for salient stimuli.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Chiacchierini, Fabien Naneix, Kate Zara Peters, John Apergis-Schoute, Eelke Mirthe Simone Snoeren, James Edgar McCutcheon
Summary: The control of protein intake is crucial for biological processes, and this study shows that in rats, protein restriction can lead to increased preference for protein and heightened VTA responses compared to carbohydrates. Prior protein restriction can also induce long-lasting food preference and VTA responses.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Jessica Hayes, Celia Garau, Giulia Chiacchierini, Gonzalo P. Urcelay, James E. McCutcheon, John Apergis-Schoute
Summary: The study found that both food-restricted and free-fed rats exhibit strong anticipatory negative contrast, with differences mainly seen in the palatability of different solutions and changes in lick behavior. These differences in lick microstructure suggest that the motivational processes underlying anticipatory negative contrast generated by contextual and flavor-driven predictors are distinct.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Onella Athnaiel, Greeshma A. Job, Roberto Ocampo, Pamela Teneqexhi, William S. Messer, Michael E. Ragozzino
Summary: The study found that CDD-0102A attenuated behavioral flexibility deficits and stereotyped motor behaviors in BTBR mice, but not in B6 mice. Treatment with CDD-0102A may reduce repetitive behaviors and restricted interests in autism by stimulating striatal M-1 muscarinic receptors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Julian Day-Cooney, Jackson J. Cone, John H. R. Maunsell
Summary: This study examines how spikes occurring at different times contribute to visual perception and action. The researchers used optogenetic stimulation to excite inhibitory interneurons in the visual cortex of mice and found that spikes occurring early in response to a visual stimulus play a crucial role in guiding behavior.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
K. L. Volcko, J. E. McCutcheon
Summary: This study examined the effects of protein restriction on female mice and found that protein-restricted female mice increase their consumption of protein. The study also explored the mechanisms of increased protein intake and its relationship with the estrous cycle in female mice.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alexia Duriez, Clemence Bergerot, Jackson J. Cone, Mitchell F. Roitman, Boris Gutkin
Summary: Seeking and consuming nutrients is crucial for survival and animals learn complex behavioral strategies to obtain them. Recent research suggests that these strategies result from reinforcement learning processes, with phasic dopamine signals playing a key role. This study explores the links between homeostatic and reinforcement learning processes in the context of sodium appetite.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pamela Teneqexhi, Alina Khalid, Khalin E. Nisbett, Greeshma A. Job, William S. S. Messer Jr, Michael E. Ragozzino
Summary: The study investigated the effect of the M-1 muscarinic receptor agonist CDD-0102A on changes in striatal glutamate concentrations during stereotyped motor behavior in BTBR and B6 mice. The findings suggest that CDD-0102A treatment attenuates glutamate decreases and increases in the dorsolateral striatum and reduces grooming behavior in BTBR mice, while it potentiates glutamate decreases and increases and elevates grooming behavior in B6 mice.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Danop Nanegrungsunk, Michael E. Ragozzino, Hao-Liang Xu, Kyle J. Haselton, Chanannait Paisansathan
Summary: The study found that SAH can increase mice's marble burying and nestlet shredding behaviors, but does not affect memory, learning, or reversal learning. SAH mice showed more object exploration and elevated perseveration in the novel object recognition test. Additionally, they exhibited increased frequency of 'jumping' behavior in the open field test. Histological analysis revealed reduced neuron density in the parietal-entorhinal cortices of SAH mice.
NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)