Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
Published on: August 1, 2018
Distinct Contributions and Sensorimotor Encoding of PV and FoxP2 Neurons in the External Globus Pallidus during
Xiaotian Pu1,2, Jingyu Ren1,2, Taorong Xie1
1Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Abstract:
The external globus pallidus (GPe), the central nucleus of the basal ganglia, comprises diverse cell types, including parvalbumin (PV) and forkhead box protein P2 (FoxP2) neurons. Their roles in movement regulation and sensory processing are well established; however, their contribution to perceptual decision-making remains unclear. Using a Go/No-Go visual task in mice, we found that optogenetic activation of either population impaired performance, whereas PV inhibition, but not FoxP2 inhibition, disrupted behavioral accuracy. Electrophysiological recordings showed that PV and FoxP2 neurons differentially encoded visual stimuli, licking movements, and trial outcomes. FoxP2 inhibition produced minimal changes in the spontaneous firing of substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) neurons. PV inhibition altered spontaneous SNr firing and, together with PV activation, altered task-evoked SNr activity, reducing the preference for reward-predicting stimuli in one subpopulation and unrewarded outcomes in another. These findings reveal the distinct roles of GPe PV and FoxP2 neurons in shaping perceptual decisions and modulating basal ganglia output.
Related Concept Videos
Association Areas of the Cortex
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,...
Vision
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Perception
Bottom-up processing begins at the sensory level, where receptors detect external environmental stimuli. These could include the tactile sensation of...
Anatomy of the Eyeball

