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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
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Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies
Published on: December 15, 2014
State-dependent plasticity of the corticostriatal pathway
C R Stoetzner1, J R Pettibone, J D Berke
1Department of Psychology, and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1109, USA.
Neuroscience
|November 26, 2009
Summary
Behavioral state critically regulates corticostriatal plasticity. Synaptic potentiation in anesthetized rats reversed to depression in awake animals, impacting reinforcement learning models.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Corticostriatal synaptic plasticity is crucial for reinforcement learning.
- Bidirectional plasticity rules have been observed in brain slices.
- Plasticity in awake animals remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if behavioral state regulates corticostriatal plasticity.
- To compare plasticity in anesthetized versus awake rats.
Main Methods:
- Examined 5 Hz cortical stimulation trains.
- Measured evoked striatal field potentials.
- Used anesthetized and awake, unrestrained rats.
Main Results:
- Observed long-term potentiation in anesthetized rats.
- Observed long-term depression in awake rats using identical stimulation.
- Demonstrated state-dependent plasticity.
Conclusions:
- Corticostriatal plasticity rules are critically dependent on behavioral state.
- Dynamic context of cortical-basal ganglia loops is essential for understanding learning and disorders.
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