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Wolff M, Halassa MM. The mediodorsal thalamus in executive control. Neuron 2024; 112:893-908. [PMID: 38295791 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Executive control, the ability to organize thoughts and action plans in real time, is a defining feature of higher cognition. Classical theories have emphasized cortical contributions to this process, but recent studies have reinvigorated interest in the role of the thalamus. Although it is well established that local thalamic damage diminishes cognitive capacity, such observations have been difficult to inform functional models. Recent progress in experimental techniques is beginning to enrich our understanding of the anatomical, physiological, and computational substrates underlying thalamic engagement in executive control. In this review, we discuss this progress and particularly focus on the mediodorsal thalamus, which regulates the activity within and across frontal cortical areas. We end with a synthesis that highlights frontal thalamocortical interactions in cognitive computations and discusses its functional implications in normal and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Wolff
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Michael M Halassa
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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Naik AA, Ma X, Munyeshyaka M, Leibenluft E, Li Z. A New Behavioral Paradigm for Frustrative Non-reward Reveals a Global Change in Brain Networks by Frustration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.28.530477. [PMID: 36909498 PMCID: PMC10002733 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.28.530477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Irritability, defined as proneness to anger, can reach a pathological extent. It is a defining symptom of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) and one of the most common reasons youth presents for psychiatric evaluation and care. Aberrant responses to frustrative non-reward (FNR, the response to omission of expected reward) are central to the pathophysiology of irritability. FNR is a translational construct to study irritability across species. The development of preclinical FNR models would advance mechanistic studies of the important and relatively understudied clinical phenomenon of irritability. Methods We used FNR as a conceptual framework to develop a novel mouse behavioral paradigm named Alternate Poking Reward Omission (APRO). After APRO, mice were examined with a battery of behavioral tests and processed for whole brain c-Fos imaging. FNR increases locomotion and aggression in mice regardless of sex. These behavioral changes resemble the symptoms observed in youth with severe irritability. There is no change in anxiety-like, depression-like, or non-aggressive social behaviors. FNR increases c-Fos+ neurons in 13 subregions of thalamus, iso-cortex and hippocampus including the prelimbic, ACC, hippocampus, dorsal thalamus, cuneiform nucleus, pons, and pallidum areas. FNR also shifts the brain network towards a more global processing mode. Conclusion Our novel FNR paradigm produces a frustration effect and alters brain processing in ways resembling the symptoms and brain network reconfiguration observed in youth with severe irritability. The novel behavioral paradigm and identified brain regions lay the groundwork for further mechanistic studies of frustration and irritability in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aijaz Ahmad Naik
- Section on Synapse Development Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
- Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research program, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Section on Synapse Development Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Maxime Munyeshyaka
- Section on Synapse Development Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Ellen Leibenluft
- Section on Mood Dysregulation and Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Zheng Li
- Section on Synapse Development Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Zhang A, Qiao D, Wang Y, Yang C, Wang Y, Sun N, Hu X, Liu Z, Zhang K. Distinguishing between bipolar depression and unipolar depression based on the reward circuit activities and clinical characteristics: A machine learning analysis. J Affect Disord 2023; 327:46-53. [PMID: 36708957 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differentiating bipolar depression (BD) from unipolar depression (UD) is a major clinical challenge. Identifying the potential classifying biomarkers between these two diseases is vital to optimize personalized management of depressed individuals. METHODS Here, we aimed to integrate neuroimaging and clinical data with machine learning method to classify BD and UD at the individual level. Data were collected from 31 healthy controls (HC group) and 80 depressive patients with an average follow-up period of 7.51 years. Of these patients, 32 got diagnosis conversion from major depressive disorder (MDD) to BD (BD group) and 48 remain persistent diagnosis of MDD (MDD group). Using graph theory and functional connectivity (FC) analysis, we investigated the differences in reward circuit properties among three groups. Then we applied a support vector machine and leave-one-out cross-validation methods to classify BD and UD patients based on neuroimaging and clinical data. RESULTS Compared with MDD and HC, BD showed decreased degree centrality of right mediodorsal thalamus (MD) and nodal efficiency (NE) of left ventral pallidum. Compared with BD and HC, MDD showed decreased NE of right MD and increased FC between right MD and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Notably, the classifier obtained high classification accuracies (87.50 %) distinguishing BD and UD patients based on reward circuit properties and clinical features. LIMITATIONS The classifying model requires out-of-sample replication analysis. CONCLUSION The reward circuit dysfunction can not only provide additional information to assist clinical differential diagnosis, but also in turn informed treatment decision of depressive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aixia Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Dan Qiao
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Chunxia Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Ning Sun
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Xiaodong Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Zhifen Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
| | - Kerang Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
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Neurobehavioral basis of Maier 3-table and other matching-to-place tasks. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE, & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 23:237-247. [PMID: 36451026 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01049-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The Maier 3-table task comprises three phases conducted each day. During the exploration phase, rats explore the entire apparatus. During the information phase, the rats are placed on one of the three tables where food is found. During the test phase, the animals are placed at the starting point on one of the two remaining tables and must enter the goal table where they previously ate. The acquisition of the Maier 3-table task was slowed down after lesions of the septum, fornix, hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, or posterior parietal cortex. Because of its time-consuming nature, the Maier 3-table task has more recently been superseded by appetitive matching-to-place in Y- or T-mazes or the circular water maze, because experimenters skip over the exploration phase. Nevertheless, like the Maier 3-table task, the acquisition of the Y- or T-maze matching-to-place task was retarded after lesions of the medial septum or medial prefrontal cortex, more particularly its prelimbic-infralimbic part. Like the previous task, the water-maze version is sensitive to lesions of the medial septum or retrosplenial cortex. Despite methodological differences between the three procedures, these results indicate common neurobiological bases of matching-to-place learning.
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The mediodorsal thalamus supports adaptive responding based on stimulus-outcome associations. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 3:100057. [PMID: 36281274 PMCID: PMC9587292 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to engage into flexible behaviors is crucial in dynamic environments. We recently showed that in addition to the well described role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), its thalamic input from the submedius thalamic nucleus (Sub) also contributes to adaptive responding during Pavlovian degradation. In the present study, we examined the role of the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) which is the other main thalamic input to the OFC. To this end, we assessed the effect of both pre- and post-training MD lesions in rats performing a Pavlovian contingency degradation task. Pre-training lesions mildly impeded the establishment of stimulus-outcome associations during the initial training of Pavlovian conditioning without interfering with Pavlovian degradation training when the sensory feedback provided by the outcome rewards were available to animals. However, we found that both pre- and post-training MD lesions produced a selective impairment during a test conducted under extinction conditions, during which only current mental representation could guide behavior. Altogether, these data suggest a role for the MD in the successful encoding and representation of Pavlovian associations.
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Hummos A, Wang BA, Drammis S, Halassa MM, Pleger B. Thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in human cognitive flexibility. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010500. [PMID: 36094955 PMCID: PMC9499289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions across frontal cortex are critical for cognition. Animal studies suggest a role for mediodorsal thalamus (MD) in these interactions, but the computations performed and direct relevance to human decision making are unclear. Here, inspired by animal work, we extended a neural model of an executive frontal-MD network and trained it on a human decision-making task for which neuroimaging data were collected. Using a biologically-plausible learning rule, we found that the model MD thalamus compressed its cortical inputs (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dlPFC) underlying stimulus-response representations. Through direct feedback to dlPFC, this thalamic operation efficiently partitioned cortical activity patterns and enhanced task switching across different contingencies. To account for interactions with other frontal regions, we expanded the model to compute higher-order strategy signals outside dlPFC, and found that the MD offered a more efficient route for such signals to switch dlPFC activity patterns. Human fMRI data provided evidence that the MD engaged in feedback to dlPFC, and had a role in routing orbitofrontal cortex inputs when subjects switched behavioral strategy. Collectively, our findings contribute to the emerging evidence for thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in the human brain. The expansion of frontal cortex during mammalian evolution suggested a prominent role in intelligent and adaptive behavior, overshadowing earlier parts of the brain. However, recent rodent studies have pointed to a role for the cognitive mediodorsal thalamus (MD) in sustaining and flexibly switching representations in the frontal cortex, but direct relevance to human decision-making are unclear. Here, inspired by animal work, we extended a neural model of an executive frontal-MD network and trained it on a human decision-making task for which human neuroimaging data were collected. We found that the model MD thalamus learned an abstract representation of its cortical inputs and provided direct feedback to frontal cortex leading to flexible computations and enhanced task switching. These abstract MD representations and ability to re-organize frontal computations created an efficient mechanism where MD can integrate input from other regions to select behavioral strategy dynamically. The model predicted an efficient route through the MD for frontal region interactions and we found consistent evidence in human neuroimaging data. Collectively, our findings contribute to the emerging evidence for thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hummos
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bin A. Wang
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Collaborative Research Centre 874 "Integration and Representation of Sensory Processes", Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sabrina Drammis
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael M. Halassa
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Burkhard Pleger
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Collaborative Research Centre 874 "Integration and Representation of Sensory Processes", Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Mair RG, Francoeur MJ, Gibson BM. Central Thalamic-Medial Prefrontal Control of Adaptive Responding in the Rat: Many Players in the Chamber. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:642204. [PMID: 33897387 PMCID: PMC8060444 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.642204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has robust afferent and efferent connections with multiple nuclei clustered in the central thalamus. These nuclei are elements in large-scale networks linking mPFC with the hippocampus, basal ganglia, amygdala, other cortical areas, and visceral and arousal systems in the brainstem that give rise to adaptive goal-directed behavior. Lesions of the mediodorsal nucleus (MD), the main source of thalamic input to middle layers of PFC, have limited effects on delayed conditional discriminations, like DMTP and DNMTP, that depend on mPFC. Recent evidence suggests that MD sustains and amplifies neuronal responses in mPFC that represent salient task-related information and is important for detecting and encoding contingencies between actions and their consequences. Lesions of rostral intralaminar (rIL) and ventromedial (VM) nuclei produce delay-independent impairments of egocentric DMTP and DNMTP that resemble effects of mPFC lesions on response speed and accuracy: results consistent with projections of rIL to striatum and VM to motor cortices. The ventral midline and anterior thalamic nuclei affect allocentric spatial cognition and memory consistent with their connections to mPFC and hippocampus. The dorsal midline nuclei spare DMTP and DNMTP. They have been implicated in behavioral-state control and response to salient stimuli in associative learning. mPFC functions are served during DNMTP by discrete populations of neurons with responses related to motor preparation, movements, lever press responses, reinforcement anticipation, reinforcement delivery, and memory delay. Population analyses show that different responses are timed so that they effectively tile the temporal interval from when DNMTP trials are initiated until the end. Event-related responses of MD neurons during DNMTP are predominantly related to movement and reinforcement, information important for DNMTP choice. These responses closely mirror the activity of mPFC neurons with similar responses. Pharmacological inactivation of MD and adjacent rIL affects the expression of diverse action- and outcome-related responses of mPFC neurons. Lesions of MD before training are associated with a shift away from movement-related responses in mPFC important for DNMTP choice. These results suggest that MD has short-term effects on the expression of event-related activity in mPFC and long-term effects that tune mPFC neurons to respond to task-specific information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert G Mair
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States
| | - Miranda J Francoeur
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States.,Neural Engineering and Translation Lab, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Brett M Gibson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States
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Nelson AJD. The anterior thalamic nuclei and cognition: A role beyond space? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 126:1-11. [PMID: 33737105 PMCID: PMC8363507 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Anterior thalamic nuclei important for specific classes of temporal discriminations. Anterior thalamic nuclei required for hippocampal-dependent contextual processes. Critical role for anterior thalamic nuclei in selective attention. Significance of anterior thalamic – anterior cingulate interactions.
The anterior thalamic nuclei are a vital node within hippocampal-diencephalic-cingulate circuits that support spatial learning and memory. Reflecting this interconnectivity, the overwhelming focus of research into the cognitive functions of the anterior thalamic nuclei has been spatial processing. However, there is increasing evidence that the functions of the anterior thalamic nuclei extend beyond the spatial realm. This work has highlighted how these nuclei are required for certain classes of temporal discrimination as well as their importance for processing other contextual information; revealing parallels with the non-spatial functions of the hippocampal formation. Yet further work has shown how the anterior thalamic nuclei may be important for other forms of non-spatial learning, including a critical role for these nuclei in attentional mechanisms. This evidence signals the need to reconsider the functions of the anterior thalamic within the framework of their wider connections with sites including the anterior cingulate cortex that subserve non-spatial functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J D Nelson
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK.
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Wolff M, Morceau S, Folkard R, Martin-Cortecero J, Groh A. A thalamic bridge from sensory perception to cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 120:222-235. [PMID: 33246018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The ability to adapt to dynamic environments requires tracking multiple signals with variable sensory salience and fluctuating behavioral relevance. This complex process requires integrative crosstalk between sensory and cognitive brain circuits. Functional interactions between cortical and thalamic regions are now considered essential for both sensory perception and cognition but a clear account of the functional link between sensory and cognitive circuits is currently lacking. This review aims to document how thalamic nuclei may effectively act as a bridge allowing to fuse perceptual and cognitive events into meaningful experiences. After highlighting key aspects of thalamocortical circuits such as the classic first-order/higher-order dichotomy, we consider the role of the thalamic reticular nucleus from directed attention to cognition. We next summarize research relying on Pavlovian learning paradigms, showing that both first-order and higher-order thalamic nuclei contribute to associative learning. Finally, we propose that modulator inputs reaching all thalamic nuclei may be critical for integrative purposes when environmental signals are computed. Altogether, the thalamus appears as the bridge linking perception, cognition and possibly affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wolff
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.
| | - S Morceau
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - R Folkard
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Martin-Cortecero
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Groh
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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Carlson H, Leitão J, Delplanque S, Cayeux I, Sander D, Vuilleumier P. Sustained effects of pleasant and unpleasant smells on resting state brain activity. Cortex 2020; 132:386-403. [PMID: 33039687 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Research suggests that transient emotional episodes produces sustained effects on psychological functions and brain activity during subsequent resting state. In this fMRI study we investigated whether transient emotions induced by smells could impact brain connectivity at rest in a valence-specific manner. The results suggest a sustained reconfiguration of parts of the default mode network which become more connected with areas implicated in olfactory processing, emotional learning, and action control. We found lingering effects of odorants on subsequent resting state that predominantly involved connections of the precuneus with a network comprising the insula, amygdala, medial orbital gyrus. Unpleasant smells in particular predicted greater coupling between insula, hippocampal structures, and prefrontal cortex, possible reflecting enhanced aversive learning and avoidance motivation. More broadly, our study illustrates a novel approach to characterize the impact of smells on brain function and differentiate the neural signatures of their valence, during task-free rest conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Carlson
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Dept. of Neurosciences, University Medical Center, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Joana Leitão
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Dept. of Neurosciences, University Medical Center, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Delplanque
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Laboratory for the Study of Emotion Elicitation and Expression, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva
| | | | - David Sander
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Laboratory for the Study of Emotion Elicitation and Expression, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva
| | - Patrik Vuilleumier
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Dept. of Neurosciences, University Medical Center, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland
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Deconstructing the Direct Reciprocal Hippocampal-Anterior Thalamic Pathways for Spatial Learning. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6978-6990. [PMID: 32753513 PMCID: PMC7470921 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0874-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is essential for normal memory but does not act in isolation. The anterior thalamic nuclei may represent one vital partner. Using DREADDs, the behavioral consequences of transiently disrupting anterior thalamic function were examined, followed by inactivation of the dorsal subiculum. Next, the anterograde transport of an adeno-associated virus expressing DREADDs was paired with localized intracerebral infusions of a ligand to target specific input pathways. In this way, the direct projections from the anterior thalamic nuclei to the dorsal hippocampal formation were inhibited, followed by separate inhibition of the dorsal subiculum projections to the anterior thalamic nuclei. To assay spatial working memory, all animals performed a reinforced T-maze alternation task, then a more challenging version that nullifies intramaze cues. Across all four experiments, deficits emerged on the spatial alternation task that precluded the use of intramaze cues. Inhibiting dorsal subiculum projections to the anterior thalamic nuclei produced the severest spatial working memory deficit. This deficit revealed the key contribution of dorsal subiculum projections to the anteromedial and anteroventral thalamic nuclei for the processing of allocentric information, projections not associated with head-direction information. The overall pattern of results provides consistent causal evidence of the two-way functional significance of direct hippocampal-anterior thalamic interactions for spatial processing. At the same time, these findings are consistent with hypotheses that these same, reciprocal interactions underlie the common core symptoms of temporal lobe and diencephalic anterograde amnesia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It has long been conjectured that the anterior thalamic nuclei might be key partners with the hippocampal formation and that, respectively, they are principally responsible for diencephalic and temporal lobe amnesia. However, direct causal evidence for this functional relationship is lacking. Here, we examined the behavioral consequences of transiently silencing the direct reciprocal interconnections between these two brain regions on tests of spatial learning. Disrupting information flow from the hippocampal formation to the anterior thalamic nuclei and vice versa impaired performance on tests of spatial learning. By revealing the conjoint importance of hippocampal-anterior thalamic pathways, these findings help explain why pathology in either the medial diencephalon or the medial temporal lobes can result in profound anterograde amnesic syndromes.
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Geramita MA, Yttri EA, Ahmari SE. The two‐step task, avoidance, and OCD. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:1007-1019. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Geramita
- Department of Psychiatry University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA USA
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Eric A. Yttri
- Department of Biological Sciences Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA USA
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Susanne E. Ahmari
- Department of Psychiatry University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
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The striatum, the hippocampus, and short-term memory binding: Volumetric analysis of the subcortical grey matter's role in mild cognitive impairment. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 25:102158. [PMID: 31918064 PMCID: PMC7036699 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hippocampal atrophy plays no role in short-term memory binding. The globus pallidus could be part of the brain network supporting binding. Total brain atrophy does not correlate with striatal grey matter atrophy in MCI. Striatal grey matter atrophy reflects in total brain atrophy in controls. Hippocampal and parahippocampal volumes correlate in MCI and controls.
Background Deficits in short-term memory (STM) binding are a distinguishing feature of preclinical stages leading to Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neuroanatomical correlates of conjunctive STM binding are largely unexplored. Here we examine the possible association between the volumes of hippocampi, parahippocampal gyri, and grey matter within the subcortical structures – all found to have foci that seemingly correlate with basic daily living activities in AD patients - with cognitive tests related to conjunctive STM binding. Materials and methods Hippocampal, thalamic, parahippocampal and corpus striatum volumes were semi-automatically quantified in brain magnetic resonance images from 25 cognitively normal people and 21 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) at high risk of AD progression, who undertook a battery of cognitive tests and the short-term memory binding test. Associations were assessed using linear regression models and group differences were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Hippocampal and parahippocampal gyrus volumes differed between MCI and control groups. Although the grey matter volume in the globus pallidus (r = -0.71, p < 0.001) and parahippocampal gyry (r = -0.63, p < 0.05) correlated with a STM binding task in the MCI group, only the former remained associated with STM binding deficits in MCI patients, after correcting for age, gender and years of education (β = -0.56,P = 0.042) although with borderline significance. Conclusions Loss of hippocampal volume plays no role in the processing of STM binding. Structures within the basal ganglia, namely the globus pallidus, could be part of the extrahippocampal network supporting binding. Replication of this study in large samples is now needed.
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Holschneider DP, Givrad TK, Yang J, Stewart SB, Francis SR, Wang Z, Maarek J. Cerebral perfusion mapping during retrieval of spatial memory in rats. Behav Brain Res 2019; 375:112116. [PMID: 31377254 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Studies of brain functional activation during spatial navigation using electrophysiology and immediate-early gene responses have typically targeted a limited number of brain regions. Our study provides the first whole brain analysis of cerebral activation during retrieval of spatial memory in the freely-moving rat. Rats (LEARNERS) were trained in the Barnes maze, an allocentric spatial navigation task, while CONTROLS received passive exposure. After 19 days, functional brain mapping was performed during recall by bolus intravenous injection of [14C]-iodoantipyrine using a novel subcutaneous minipump triggered by remote activation. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)-related tissue radioactivity was analyzed by statistical parametric mapping from autoradiographic images of the three-dimensionally reconstructed brains. Functional connectivity was examined between regions of the spatial navigation circuit through interregional correlation analysis. Significant rCBF increases were noted in LEARNERS compared to CONTROLS broadly across the spatial navigation circuit, including the hippocampus (anterior dorsal CA1, posterior ventral CA1-3), subiculum, thalamus, striatum, medial septum, cerebral cortex, with decreases noted in the mammillary nucleus, amygdala and insula. LEARNERS showed a significantly greater positive correlation of rCBF of the ventral hippocampus with retrosplenial, lateral orbital, parietal and primary visual cortex, and a significantly more negative correlation with the mammillary nucleus, amygdala, posterior entorhinal cortex, and anterior thalamic nucleus. The complex sensory component of the spatial navigation task was underscored by broad activation across visual, somatosensory, olfactory, auditory and vestibular circuits which was enhanced in LEARNERS. Brain mapping facilitated by an implantable minipump represents a powerful tool for evaluation of mammalian behaviors dependent on locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- D P Holschneider
- Dept. of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States; Dept. of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States; Viterbi School of Engineering, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, United States.
| | - T K Givrad
- Viterbi School of Engineering, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, United States
| | - J Yang
- Dept. of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
| | - S B Stewart
- Dept. of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
| | - S R Francis
- Dept. of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
| | - Z Wang
- Dept. of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
| | - Jmi Maarek
- Viterbi School of Engineering, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, United States
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15
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Huang AS, Mitchell JA, Haber SN, Alia-Klein N, Goldstein RZ. The thalamus in drug addiction: from rodents to humans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0028. [PMID: 29352027 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairments in response inhibition and salience attribution (iRISA) have been proposed to underlie the clinical symptoms of drug addiction as mediated by cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical networks. The bulk of evidence supporting the iRISA model comes from neuroimaging research that has focused on cortical and striatal influences with less emphasis on the role of the thalamus. Here, we highlight the importance of the thalamus in drug addiction, focusing on animal literature findings on thalamic nuclei in the context of drug-seeking, structural and functional changes of the thalamus as measured by imaging studies in human drug addiction, particularly during drug cue and non-drug reward processing, and response inhibition tasks. Findings from the animal literature suggest that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, the lateral habenula and the mediodorsal nucleus may be involved in the reinstatement, extinction and expression of drug-seeking behaviours. In support of the iRISA model, the human addiction imaging literature demonstrates enhanced thalamus activation when reacting to drug cues and reduced thalamus activation during response inhibition. This pattern of response was further associated with the severity of, and relapse in, drug addiction. Future animal studies could widen their field of focus by investigating the specific role(s) of different thalamic nuclei in different phases of the addiction cycle. Similarly, future human imaging studies should aim to specifically delineate the structure and function of different thalamic nuclei, for example, through the application of advanced imaging protocols at higher magnetic fields (7 Tesla).This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Of mice and mental health: facilitating dialogue between basic and clinical neuroscientists'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Suzanne N Haber
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Nelly Alia-Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rita Z Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA .,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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16
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Courtiol E, Neiman M, Fleming G, Teixeira CM, Wilson DA. A specific olfactory cortico-thalamic pathway contributing to sampling performance during odor reversal learning. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 224:961-971. [PMID: 30506279 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1807-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence shows that olfactory information is processed within a thalamic nucleus in both rodents and humans. The mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDT) receives projections from olfactory cortical areas including the piriform cortex (PCX) and is interconnected with the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Using electrophysiology in freely moving rats, we recently demonstrated the representation of olfactory information in the MDT and the dynamics of functional connectivity between the PCX, MDT and OFC. Notably, PCX-MDT coupling is specifically increased during odor sampling of an odor discrimination task. However, whether this increase of coupling is functionally relevant is unknown. To decipher the importance of PCX-MDT coupling during the sampling period, we used optogenetics to specifically inactivate the PCX inputs to MDT during an odor discrimination task and its reversal in rats. We demonstrate that inactivating the PCX inputs to MDT does not affect the performance accuracy of an odor discrimination task and its reversal, however, it does impact the rats' sampling duration. Indeed, rats in which PCX inputs to MDT were inactivated during the sampling period display longer sampling duration during the odor reversal learning compared to controls-an effect not observed when inactivating OFC inputs to MDT. We demonstrate a causal link between the PCX inputs to MDT and the odor sampling performance, highlighting the importance of this specific cortico-thalamic pathway in olfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Courtiol
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA. .,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Langone Medical Center, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Neuroscience Research Center of Lyon, Team CMO, CNRS UMR 5292-INSERM U1028-Université Lyon 1, 50 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69366, Lyon Cedex 07, France.
| | - Michelle Neiman
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Gloria Fleming
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Catia M Teixeira
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Langone Medical Center, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Donald A Wilson
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Langone Medical Center, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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17
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The Cognitive Thalamus as a Gateway to Mental Representations. J Neurosci 2018; 39:3-14. [PMID: 30389839 PMCID: PMC6325267 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0479-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically, the thalamus has been viewed as little more than a relay, simply transferring information to key players of the cast, the cortex and hippocampus, without providing any unique functional contribution. In recent years, evidence from multiple laboratories researching different thalamic nuclei has contradicted this idea of the thalamus as a passive structure. Dated models of thalamic functions are being pushed aside, revealing a greater and far more complex contribution of the thalamus for cognition. In this Viewpoints article, we show how recent data support novel views of thalamic functions that emphasize integrative roles in cognition, ranging from learning and memory to flexible adaption. We propose that these apparently separate cognitive functions may indeed be supported by a more general role in shaping mental representations. Several features of thalamocortical circuits are consistent with this suggested role, and we highlight how divergent and convergent thalamocortical and corticothalamic pathways may complement each other to support these functions. Furthermore, the role of the thalamus for subcortical integration is highlighted as a key mechanism for maintaining and updating representations. Finally, we discuss future areas of research and stress the importance of incorporating new experimental findings into existing knowledge to continue developing thalamic models. The presence of thalamic pathology in a number of neurological conditions reinforces the need to better understand the role of this region in cognition.
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18
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Alcaraz F, Fresno V, Marchand AR, Kremer EJ, Coutureau E, Wolff M. Thalamocortical and corticothalamic pathways differentially contribute to goal-directed behaviors in the rat. eLife 2018; 7:32517. [PMID: 29405119 PMCID: PMC5800843 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly distributed neural circuits are thought to support adaptive decision-making in volatile and complex environments. Notably, the functional interactions between prefrontal and reciprocally connected thalamic nuclei areas may be important when choices are guided by current goal value or action-outcome contingency. We examined the functional involvement of selected thalamocortical and corticothalamic pathways connecting the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) in the behaving rat. Using a chemogenetic approach to inhibit projection-defined dmPFC and MD neurons during an instrumental learning task, we show that thalamocortical and corticothalamic pathways differentially support goal attributes. Both pathways participate in adaptation to the current goal value, but only thalamocortical neurons are required to integrate current causal relationships. These data indicate that antiparallel flow of information within thalamocortical circuits may convey qualitatively distinct aspects of adaptive decision-making and highlight the importance of the direction of information flow within neural circuits. Planning and decision-making rely upon a region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. But the prefrontal cortex does not act in isolation. Instead, it works together with a number of other brain regions. These include the thalamus, an area long thought to pass information on to the cortex for further processing. But signals also travel in the opposite direction, from the cortex back to the thalamus. Does the cortex-to-thalamus pathway carry the same information as the thalamus-to-cortex pathway? To find out, Alcaraz et al. blocked each pathway in rats performing a decision-making task. The rats had learned that pressing a lever led to one type of reward, whereas moving a rod led to another. Alcaraz et al. reduced the desirability of one of the rewards by giving the rats free access to it for an hour. Afterwards, the rats opted mainly for the action associated with the reward that had remained desirable. However, blocking either the thalamus-to-cortex or cortex-to-thalamus pathway prevented this preference from emerging. This suggests that an information flow in both directions is necessary to update knowledge about the value of a reward. In a second experiment, Alcaraz et al. removed the link between one of the actions and its reward. The reward instead appeared at random, irrespective of the rat’s own behavior. Control rats responded by focusing their efforts on the action that still delivered a reliable reward, and by performing the other action less often. Blocking the thalamus-to-cortex pathway prevented this response, but blocking the cortex-to-thalamus pathway did not. This suggests that only the former pathway is necessary to re-evaluate the relationship between an action and an outcome. Two key aspects of goal-directed behavior – recognizing the value of a reward and the link between an action and an outcome – thus depend differently on the thalamus-to-cortex and cortex-to-thalamus pathways. This same principle may also be at work in other neural circuits with bidirectional connections. Understanding such principles may lead to better strategies for treating disorders of brain connectivity, such as schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Alcaraz
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Virginie Fresno
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alain R Marchand
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Eric J Kremer
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Etienne Coutureau
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mathieu Wolff
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
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19
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Kuramoto E, Iwai H, Yamanaka A, Ohno S, Seki H, Tanaka YR, Furuta T, Hioki H, Goto T. Dorsal and ventral parts of thalamic nucleus submedius project to different areas of rat orbitofrontal cortex: A single neuron-tracing study using virus vectors. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:3821-3839. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Kuramoto
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Cell Biology; Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University; Kagoshima Japan
| | - Haruki Iwai
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Cell Biology; Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University; Kagoshima Japan
| | - Atsushi Yamanaka
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Cell Biology; Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University; Kagoshima Japan
| | - Sachi Ohno
- Department of Dental Anesthesiology; Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University; Kagoshima Japan
| | - Haruka Seki
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Cell Biology; Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University; Kagoshima Japan
| | - Yasuhiro R. Tanaka
- Department of Physiology; Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo; Tokyo Japan
| | - Takahiro Furuta
- Department of Morphological Brain Science; Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University; Kyoto Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hioki
- Department of Morphological Brain Science; Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University; Kyoto Japan
| | - Tetsuya Goto
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Cell Biology; Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University; Kagoshima Japan
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20
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Linley SB, Gallo MM, Vertes RP. Lesions of the ventral midline thalamus produce deficits in reversal learning and attention on an odor texture set shifting task. Brain Res 2016; 1649:110-122. [PMID: 27544424 PMCID: PMC5796786 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The nucleus reuniens (RE) of the ventral midline thalamus is strongly reciprocally connected with the hippocampus (HF) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and has been shown to mediate the transfer of information between these structures. It has become increasingly well established that RE serves a critical role in mnemonic tasks requiring the interaction of the HF and mPFC, but essentially not tasks relying solely on the HF. Very few studies have addressed the independent actions of RE on prefrontal executive functioning. The present report examined the effects of lesions of the ventral midline thalamus, including RE and the dorsally adjacent rhomboid nucleus (RH) in rats on attention and behavioral flexibility using the attentional set shifting task (AST). The task uses odor and tactile stimuli to test for attentional set formation, attentional set shifting, behavioral flexibility and reversal learning. By comparison with sham controls, lesioned rats were significantly impaired on reversal learning and intradimensional (ID) set shifting. Specifically, RE/RH lesioned rats were impaired on the first reversal stage of the task which required a change in response strategy to select a previously non-rewarded stimulus for reward. RE/RH lesioned rats also exhibited deficits in the ability to transfer or generalize rules of the task which requires making the same modality-based choices (e.g., odor vs. tactile) to different sets of stimuli in the ID stage of the task. These results demonstrate that in addition to its role in tasks dependent on HF-mPFC interactions, nucleus reuniens is also critically involved cognitive/executive functions associated with the medial prefrontal cortex. As such, the deficits in the AST task produced by RE/RH lesions suggest the ventral midline thalamus directly contributes to flexible goal directed behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B Linley
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, United States; Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, United States
| | - Michelle M Gallo
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, United States
| | - Robert P Vertes
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, United States.
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21
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Alcaraz F, Marchand AR, Courtand G, Coutureau E, Wolff M. Parallel inputs from the mediodorsal thalamus to the prefrontal cortex in the rat. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 44:1972-86. [PMID: 27319754 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing interest in determining the functional contribution of thalamic inputs to cortical functions. In the context of adaptive behaviours, identifying the precise role of the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) in particular remains difficult despite the large amount of experimental data available. A better understanding of the thalamocortical connectivity of this region may help to capture its functional role. To address this issue, this study focused exclusively on the specific connections from the MD to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) by means of direct comparisons of labelling produced by single and dual injections of retrograde tracers in the different subdivisions of the PFC in the rat. We show that at least three parallel and essentially separate thalamocortical pathways originate from the MD, as follows: projections to the dorsal (1) and the ventral (2) subdivisions of the mPFC follow a mediolateral topography at the thalamic level (i.e. medial thalamic neurons target the mPFC ventrally whereas lateral thalamic neurons project dorsally), whereas a considerable innervation to the OFC (3) includes thalamic cells projecting to both the lateral and the ventral OFC subdivisions. These observations provide new insight on the functions of the MD and suggest a specific focus on each of these pathways for future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Alcaraz
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alain R Marchand
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Gilles Courtand
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Etienne Coutureau
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mathieu Wolff
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33076, Bordeaux, France
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22
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Do the anterior and lateral thalamic nuclei make distinct contributions to spatial representation and memory? Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 133:69-78. [PMID: 27266961 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The anterior and lateral thalamus has long been considered to play an important role in spatial and mnemonic cognitive functions; however, it remains unclear whether each region makes a unique contribution to spatial information processing. We begin by reviewing evidence from anatomical studies and electrophysiological recordings which suggest that at least one of the functions of the anterior thalamus is to guide spatial orientation in relation to a global or distal spatial framework, while the lateral thalamus serves to guide behavior in relation to a local or proximal framework. We conclude by reviewing experimental work using targeted manipulations (lesion or neuronal silencing) of thalamic nuclei during spatial behavior and single-unit recordings from neuronal representations of space. Our summary of this literature suggests that although the evidence strongly supports a working model of spatial information processing involving the anterior thalamus, research regarding the role of the lateral thalamus is limited and requires further attention. We therefore identify a number of major gaps in this research and suggest avenues of future study that could potentially solidify our understanding of the relative roles of anterior and lateral thalamic regions in spatial representation and memory.
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23
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Flexible Use of Predictive Cues beyond the Orbitofrontal Cortex: Role of the Submedius Thalamic Nucleus. J Neurosci 2015; 35:13183-93. [PMID: 26400947 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1237-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is known to play a crucial role in learning the consequences of specific events. However, the contribution of OFC thalamic inputs to these processes is largely unknown. Using a tract-tracing approach, we first demonstrated that the submedius nucleus (Sub) shares extensive reciprocal connections with the OFC. We then compared the effects of excitotoxic lesions of the Sub or the OFC on the ability of rats to use outcome identity to direct responding. We found that neither OFC nor Sub lesions interfered with the basic differential outcomes effect. However, more specific tests revealed that OFC rats, but not Sub rats, were disproportionally relying on the outcome, rather than on the discriminative stimulus, to guide behavior, which is consistent with the view that the OFC integrates information about predictive cues. In subsequent experiments using a Pavlovian contingency degradation procedure, we found that both OFC and Sub lesions produced a severe deficit in the ability to update Pavlovian associations. Altogether, the submedius therefore appears as a functionally relevant thalamic component in a circuit dedicated to the integration of predictive cues to guide behavior, previously conceived as essentially dependent on orbitofrontal functions. Significance statement: In the present study, we identify a largely unknown thalamic region, the submedius nucleus, as a new functionally relevant component in a circuit supporting the flexible use of predictive cues. Such abilities were previously conceived as largely dependent on the orbitofrontal cortex. Interestingly, this echoes recent findings in the field showing, in research involving an instrumental setup, an additional involvement of another thalamic nuclei, the parafascicular nucleus, when correct responding requires an element of flexibility (Bradfield et al., 2013a). Therefore, the present contribution supports the emerging view that limbic thalamic nuclei may contribute critically to adaptive responding when an element of flexibility is required after the establishment of initial learning.
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24
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Courtiol E, Wilson DA. The olfactory thalamus: unanswered questions about the role of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in olfaction. Front Neural Circuits 2015; 9:49. [PMID: 26441548 PMCID: PMC4585119 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2015.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDT) is a higher order thalamic nucleus and its role in cognition is increasingly well established. Interestingly, components of the MDT also have a somewhat unique sensory function as they link primary olfactory cortex to orbitofrontal associative cortex. In fact, anatomical evidence firmly demonstrates that the MDT receives direct input from primary olfactory areas including the piriform cortex and has dense reciprocal connections with the orbitofrontal cortex. The functions of this olfactory pathway have been poorly explored but lesion, imaging, and electrophysiological studies suggest that these connections may be involved in olfactory processing including odor perception, discrimination, learning, and attention. However, many important questions regarding the MDT and olfaction remain unanswered. Our goal here is not only to briefly review the existing literature but also to highlight some of the remaining questions that need to be answered to better define the role(s) of the MDT in olfactory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Courtiol
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research Orangeburg, NY, USA ; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center NY, USA
| | - Donald A Wilson
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research Orangeburg, NY, USA ; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center NY, USA
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