Corticostriatal Flow of Action Selection Bias
Eun Jung Hwang1, Trevor D Link1, Yvonne Yuling Hu1
1Neurobiology Section, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, and Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Neuron
|November 11, 2019
Summary
The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) uses distinct pathways for decision-making and movement. One pathway biases choices, while another controls movement kinematics, revealing functional specialization within the PPC.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is crucial for decision-making and movement control.
- Understanding the specific input-output pathways of the PPC that support these diverse functions remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct roles of PPC neurons projecting to the dorsal striatum (PPC-STR) and posterior secondary motor cortex (PPC-pM2).
- To elucidate how these projection-specific pathways contribute to decision-making and movement control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized projection-specific retrograde labeling in mice to identify distinct PPC subpopulations.
- Employed two-photon calcium imaging during decision-making tasks.
- Performed optogenetic inactivation of specific PPC neuronal populations and their terminals.
Main Results:
- PPC-STR and PPC-pM2 represent largely distinct neuronal subpopulations with differential input connectivity.
- PPC-STR neurons showed stronger encoding of history-dependent choice bias during decision-making.
- Inactivation of PPC-STR reduced choice bias, while inactivation of PPC-pM2 altered movement kinematics.
Conclusions:
- The PPC biases action selection via its STR projection and controls movement kinematics through PPC-pM2 neurons.
- The PPC likely supports multiple functions through parallel, functionally specialized subpopulations with distinct connectivity.
