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Local D2- to D1-neuron transmodulation updates goal-directed learning in the striatum
Miriam Matamales1, Alice E McGovern2,3, Jia Dai Mi4
1Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. m.matamales@unsw.edu.au j.bertran@unsw.edu.au.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 1, 2020
Summary
Extinction learning reshapes behavior by updating goal-directed actions. Dopamine signals in the striatum facilitate this by dynamically shifting neuron activity, specifically from D2- to D1-spiny projection neurons (SPNs), to control volitional actions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Extinction learning is crucial for behavioral control, enabling animals to cease actions no longer linked to rewards.
- Dopamine signaling within the striatum is implicated in extinction learning, but circuit reorganization remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how neural circuits mediating goal-directed control are reorganized during new learning.
- To elucidate the role of dopamine signaling in updating previously learned goal-directed actions.
Main Methods:
- Mapping dopamine-dependent transcriptional activation in spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in mice.
- Analyzing ensembles of D1-SPNs and D2-SPNs to observe dynamic changes during learning.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated extensive and dynamic transmodulation from D2-SPNs to D1-SPNs across the striatum.
- Identified this transmodulation as essential for updating goal-directed learning.
Conclusions:
- D2-SPNs play a critical role in suppressing outdated plasticity in D1-SPNs.
- This process reshapes volitional action by modulating striatal territories during learning.
