Neurons in both pallidal segments change their firing properties similarly prior to closure of the eyes

Dichotomous activity and function of neurons with low- and high-frequency discharge in the external globus pallidus of non-human primates

To date, there is a consensus that there are at least two neuronal populations in the non-human primate (NHP) external globus pallidus (GPe): low-frequency discharge (LFD) and high-frequency discharge (HFD) neurons. Nevertheless, almost all NHP physiological studies have neglected the functional importance of LFD neurons. This study examined the discharge features of these two GPe neuronal subpopulations recorded in four NHPs engaged in a classical conditioning task with cues predicting reward, neutral and aversive outcomes. The results show that LFD neurons tended to burst, encoded the salience of behavioral cues, and exhibited correlated spiking activity. By contrast, the HFD neurons tended to pause, encoded cue valence, and exhibited uncorrelated spiking activity. Overall, these findings point to the dichotomic organization of the NHP GPe, which is likely to be critical to the implementation of normal basal ganglia functions and computations.

Subthalamic nucleus stabilizes movements by reducing neural spike variability in monkey basal ganglia

The subthalamic nucleus projects to the external and internal pallidum, the modulatory and output nuclei of the basal ganglia, respectively, and plays an indispensable role in controlling voluntary movements. However, the precise mechanism by which the subthalamic nucleus controls pallidal activity and movements remains elusive. Here, we utilize chemogenetics to reversibly reduce neural activity of the motor subregion of the subthalamic nucleus in three macaque monkeys (Macaca fuscata, both sexes) during a reaching task. Systemic administration of chemogenetic ligands prolongs movement time and increases spike train variability in the pallidum, but only slightly affects firing rate modulations. Across-trial analyses reveal that the irregular discharges in the pallidum coincides with prolonged movement time. Reduction of subthalamic activity also induces excessive abnormal movements in the contralateral forelimb, which are preceded by subthalamic and pallidal phasic activity changes. Our results suggest that the subthalamic nucleus stabilizes pallidal spike trains and achieves stable movements.

Chemogenetic inactivation of the subthalamic nucleus in monkeys increases spike train variability in the pallidum and prolongs movement time, suggesting its role in stabilizing pallidal spike trains to achieve stable motor control.

Desynchronization of slow oscillations in the basal ganglia during natural sleep

Slow oscillations of neuronal activity alternating between firing and silence are a hallmark of slow-wave sleep (SWS). These oscillations reflect the default activity present in all mammalian species, and are ubiquitous to anesthesia, brain slice preparations, and neuronal cultures. In all these cases, neuronal firing is highly synchronous within local circuits, suggesting that oscillation-synchronization coupling may be a governing principle of sleep physiology regardless of anatomical connectivity. To investigate whether this principle applies to overall brain organization, we recorded the activity of individual neurons from basal ganglia (BG) structures and the thalamocortical (TC) network over 70 full nights of natural sleep in two vervet monkeys. During SWS, BG neurons manifested slow oscillations (∼0.5 Hz) in firing rate that were as prominent as in the TC network. However, in sharp contrast to any neural substrate explored thus far, the slow oscillations in all BG structures were completely desynchronized between individual neurons. Furthermore, whereas in the TC network single-cell spiking was locked to slow oscillations in the local field potential (LFP), the BG LFP exhibited only weak slow oscillatory activity and failed to entrain nearby cells. We thus show that synchrony is not inherent to slow oscillations, and propose that the BG desynchronization of slow oscillations could stem from its unique anatomy and functional connectivity. Finally, we posit that BG slow-oscillation desynchronization may further the reemergence of slow-oscillation traveling waves from multiple independent origins in the frontal cortex, thus significantly contributing to normal SWS.

The external globus pallidus: progress and perspectives

The external globus pallidus (GPe) of the basal ganglia is in a unique and powerful position to influence processing of motor information by virtue of its widespread projections to all basal ganglia nuclei. Despite the clinical importance of the GPe in common motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease, there is only limited information about its cellular composition and organizational principles. In this review, recent advances in the understanding of the diversity in the molecular profile, anatomy, physiology and corresponding behaviour during movement of GPe neurons are described. Importantly, this study attempts to build consensus and highlight commonalities of the cellular classification based on existing but contentious literature. Additionally, an analysis of the literature concerning the intricate reciprocal loops formed between the GPe and major synaptic partners, including both the striatum and the subthalamic nucleus, is provided. In conclusion, the GPe has emerged as a crucial node in the basal ganglia macrocircuit. While subtleties in the cellular makeup and synaptic connection of the GPe create new challenges, modern research tools have shown promise in untangling such complexity, and will provide better understanding of the roles of the GPe in encoding movements and their associated pathologies.

Hold your pauses: external globus pallidus neurons respond to behavioural events by decreasing pause activity

Awareness of its rich structural pathways has earned the external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe) recognition as a central figure within the basal ganglia circuitry. Interestingly, GPe neurons are uniquely identified by the presence of prominent pauses interspersed among a high-frequency discharge rate of 50-80 spikes/s. These pauses have an average pause duration of 620 ms with a frequency of 13/min, yielding an average pause activity (probability of a GPe neuron being in a pause) of (620 × 13)/(60 × 1000) = 0.13. Spontaneous pause activity has been found to be inversely related to arousal state. The relationship of pause activity with behavioural events remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we analysed the electrophysiological activity of 200 well-isolated GPe pauser cells recorded from four non-human primates (Macaque fascicularis) while they were engaged in similar classical conditioning tasks. The isolation quality of the recorded activity and the pauses were determined with objective automatic methods. The results showed that the pause probability decreased by 9.09 and 10.0%, and the discharge rate increased by 2.96 and 1.95%, around cue and outcome presentation, respectively. Analysis of the linear relationship between the changes in pause activity and discharge rate showed r(2)  = 0.46 and r(2)  = 0.66 upon cue onset and outcome presentation, respectively. Thus, pause activity is a pertinent element in short-term encoding of relevant behavioural events, and has a significant, but not exclusive, role in the modulation of GPe discharge rate around these events.

Coinciding decreases in discharge rate suggest that spontaneous pauses in firing of external pallidum neurons are network driven

The external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe) is one of the core nuclei of the basal ganglia, playing a major role in normal control of behavior and in the pathophysiology of basal ganglia-related disorders such as Parkinson's disease. In vivo, most neurons in the GPe are characterized by high firing rates (50-100 spikes/s), interspersed with long periods (∼0.6 s) of complete silence, which are termed GPe pauses. Previous physiological studies of single and pairs of GPe neurons have failed to fully disclose the physiological process by which these pauses originate. We examined 1001 simultaneously recorded pairs of high-frequency discharge GPe cells recorded from four monkeys during task-irrelevant periods, considering the activity in one cell while the other is pausing. We found that pauses (n = 137,278 pauses) coincide with a small yet significant reduction in firing rate (0.78 ± 0.136 spikes/s) in other GPe cells. Additionally, we found an increase in the probability of the simultaneously recorded cell to pause during the pause period of the "trigger" cell. Importantly, this increase in the probability to pause at the same time does not account for the reduction in firing rate by itself. Modeling of GPe cells as class 2 excitability neurons (Hodgkin, 1948) with common external inputs can explain our results. We suggest that common inputs decrease the GPe discharge rate and lead to a bifurcation phenomenon (pause) in some of the GPe neurons.

A biologically constrained model of the whole basal ganglia addressing the paradoxes of connections and selection

The basal ganglia nuclei form a complex network of nuclei often assumed to perform selection, yet their individual roles and how they influence each other is still largely unclear. In particular, the ties between the external and internal parts of the globus pallidus are paradoxical, as anatomical data suggest a potent inhibitory projection between them while electrophysiological recordings indicate that they have similar activities. Here we introduce a theoretical study that reconciles both views on the intra-pallidal projection, by providing a plausible characterization of the relationship between the external and internal globus pallidus. Specifically, we developed a mean-field model of the whole basal ganglia, whose parameterization is optimized to respect best a collection of numerous anatomical and electrophysiological data. We first obtained models respecting all our constraints, hence anatomical and electrophysiological data on the intrapallidal projection are globally consistent. This model furthermore predicts that both aforementioned views about the intra-pallidal projection may be reconciled when this projection is weakly inhibitory, thus making it possible to support similar neural activity in both nuclei and for the entire basal ganglia to select between actions. Second, we predicts that afferent projections are substantially unbalanced towards the external segment, as it receives the strongest excitation from STN and the weakest inhibition from the striatum. Finally, our study strongly suggests that the intrapallidal connection pattern is not focused but diffuse, as this latter pattern is more efficient for the overall selection performed in the basal ganglia.

Relationship between oscillatory activity in the cortico-basal ganglia network and parkinsonism in MPTP-treated monkeys

Parkinsonism is associated with changes in oscillatory activity patterns and increased synchronization of neurons in the basal ganglia and cortex in patients and animal models of Parkinson's disease, but the relationship between these changes and the severity of parkinsonian signs remains unclear. We examined this relationship by studying changes in local field potentials (LFPs) in the internal pallidal segment (GPi) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN), and in encephalographic signals (EEG) from the primary motor cortex (M1) in Rhesus monkeys which were rendered progressively parkinsonian by repeated systemic injections of small doses of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Observations during wakefulness and sleep (defined by EEG and video records) were analyzed separately. The severity of parkinsonism correlated with increases in spectral power at frequencies below 15.5Hz in M1 and GPi and reductions in spectral power at frequencies above 15.6Hz with little change in STN. The severity of parkinsonism also correlated with increases in the coherence between M1 EEG and basal ganglia LFPs in the low frequency band. Levodopa treatment reduced low-frequency activity and increased high-frequency activity in all three areas, but did not affect coherence. The state of arousal also affected LFP and EEG signals in all three structures, particularly in the STN. These results suggest that parkinsonism-associated changes in alpha and low-beta band oscillatory activity can be detected early in the parkinsonian state in M1 and GPi. Interestingly, oscillations detectable in STN LFP signals (including oscillations in the beta-band) do not appear to correlate strongly with the severity of mild-to-moderate parkinsonism in these animals. Levodopa-induced changes in oscillatory M1 EEG and basal ganglia LFP patterns do not necessarily represent a normalization of abnormalities caused by dopamine depletion.

Encoding by synchronization in the primate striatum

Information is encoded in the nervous system through the discharge and synchronization of single neurons. The striatum, the input stage of the basal ganglia, is divided into three territories: the putamen, the caudate, and the ventral striatum, all of which converge onto the same motor pathway. This parallel organization suggests that there are multiple and competing systems in the basal ganglia network controlling behavior. To explore which mechanism(s) enables the different striatal domains to encode behavioral events and to control behavior, we compared the neural activity of phasically active neurons [medium spiny neurons (MSNs), presumed projection neurons] and tonically active neurons (presumed cholinergic interneurons) across striatal territories from monkeys during the performance of a well practiced task. Although neurons in all striatal territories displayed similar spontaneous discharge properties and similar temporal modulations of their discharge rates to the behavioral events, their correlation structure was profoundly different. The distributions of signal and noise correlation of pairs of putamen MSNs were strongly shifted toward positive correlations and these two measures were correlated. In contrast, MSN pairs in the caudate and ventral striatum displayed symmetrical, near-zero signal and noise correlation distributions. Furthermore, only putamen MSN pairs displayed different noise correlation dynamics to rewarding versus neutral/aversive cues. Similarly, the noise correlation between tonically active neuron pairs was stronger in the putamen than in the caudate. We suggest that the level of synchronization of the neuronal activity and its temporal dynamics differentiate the striatal territories and may thus account for the different roles that striatal domains play in behavioral control.

Decoupling neuronal oscillations during subthalamic nucleus stimulation in the parkinsonian primate

Subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation is a popular treatment for Parkinson's disease; however, its effect on neuronal activity is unclear. We performed simultaneous multi-electrode recordings in the STN and its targets, the globus pallidus internus (GPi) and externus (GPe) in the parkinsonian non-human primate during high frequency STN macro-stimulation. Our results indicate that in the parkinsonian state the abnormal neuronal oscillatory activity in the 10-15 Hz range is coherent within and between nuclei. We further show that STN macro-stimulation results in a reduction of oscillatory activity in the globus pallidus. In addition, a functional decoupling of the STN from its pallidal targets is evidenced by the reduced STN-GPi coherence, that effectively removes the STN synchronous oscillatory drive of basal ganglia output. This decoupling results in reduced coherence between neurons within the GPi which resume an independent neuronal activity pattern. This decorrelation of the basal ganglia output may result in a reduction of the fluctuations of the basal ganglia inhibitory control over thalamic neurons which may potentially contribute to the beneficial effects of deep brain high-frequency stimulation.