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Related Concept Videos

Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and the...
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological states or needs.
Neural Circuits01:25

Neural Circuits

Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

New Variations for Strategy Set-shifting in the Rat
09:45

New Variations for Strategy Set-shifting in the Rat

Published on: January 23, 2017

Orbitofrontal and striatal circuits dynamically encode the shift between goal-directed and habitual actions.

Christina M Gremel1, Rui M Costa

  • 1Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. gremelc@mail.nih.gov

Nature Communications
|August 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Mice flexibly switch between goal-directed and habitual actions, controlled by the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and striatum. OFC activity tracks outcome value, guiding goal-directed behavior and impacting compulsive actions.

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In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
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New Variations for Strategy Set-shifting in the Rat
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Published on: January 23, 2017

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
07:52

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science
  • Decision Making

Background:

  • Flexible decision-making relies on shifting between goal-directed and habitual actions.
  • The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and striatum (dorsal medial striatum - DMS, and dorsal lateral striatum - DLS) are implicated in action control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the shift between goal-directed and habitual actions.
  • To identify the specific roles of the OFC, DMS, and DLS in mediating these action strategies.
  • To explore the involvement of the OFC in outcome revaluation and its impact on goal-directed behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a novel within-subject instrumental lever-pressing paradigm in mice.
  • Simultaneous in vivo recordings of neuronal ensembles in the OFC, DMS, and DLS during action shifting.
  • Chemogenetic inhibition and optogenetic activation of the OFC to manipulate goal-directed actions.

Main Results:

  • The OFC plays a critical role in actions following outcome revaluation.
  • DMS and DLS mediate distinct action strategies, with DMS and OFC more engaged during goal-directed actions, and DLS less engaged.
  • Neural activity in the OFC reflects outcome value changes and correlates with goal-directed behavior.
  • OFC manipulation directly impacts the level of goal-directed pressing.

Conclusions:

  • The OFC is crucial for action revaluation and the flexible control of goal-directed actions.
  • Distinct roles of OFC, DMS, and DLS in mediating goal-directed versus habitual behaviors were confirmed.
  • Findings have implications for understanding the neural basis of compulsive behaviors.