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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
07:42
An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents
Published on: August 2, 2018
[Role of Thalamocortical Circuits in Action Decision-Making]
1Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.
Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No Shinpo
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Mice decide to act or stay still using motor thalamus signals sent to the secondary motor cortex (M2). This study reveals how the brain transforms action values into motor execution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Decision-making
- Motor control
Background:
- Animals must decide between action and inaction.
- Motor thalamus and secondary motor cortex (M2) are key to this process in mice.
- Motor thalamus transmits action values to M2 before movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the circuit mechanisms underlying the transformation of action values into motor actions.
- To understand how the motor thalamus and M2 interact for action initiation.
Main Methods:
- Investigated neural pathways in mice.
- Analyzed signal transmission from motor thalamus to M2.
- Examined M2 activity related to action initiation and execution.
Main Results:
- Motor thalamus encodes relative action value regardless of action execution.
- This value signal precedes action initiation and is sent to M2.
- The signal is transformed in M2 into activity driving motor initiation and action execution.
Conclusions:
- The motor thalamus-M2 circuit is critical for transforming action values into executed actions.
- Understanding this circuit provides insight into the neural basis of decision-making and motor control.
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