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Hormigo S, Zhou J, Chabbert D, Sajid S, Busel N, Castro-Alamancos M. Zona incerta distributes a broad movement signal that modulates behavior. eLife 2023; 12:RP89366. [PMID: 38048270 PMCID: PMC10695563 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The zona incerta is a subthalamic nucleus made up mostly of GABAergic neurons. It has wide-ranging inputs and outputs and is believed to have many integrative functions that link sensory stimuli with motor responses to guide behavior. However, its role is not well established perhaps because few studies have measured the activity of zona incerta neurons in behaving animals under different conditions. To record the activity of zona incerta neurons during exploratory and cue-driven goal-directed behaviors, we used electrophysiology in head-fixed mice moving on a spherical treadmill and fiber photometry in freely moving mice. We found two groups of neurons based on their sensitivity to movement, with a minority of neurons responding to whisker stimuli. Furthermore, zona incerta GABAergic neurons robustly code the occurrence of exploratory and goal-directed movements, but not their direction. To understand the function of these activations, we performed genetically targeted lesions and optogenetic manipulations of zona incerta GABAergic neurons during exploratory and goal-directed behaviors. The results showed that the zona incerta has a role in modulating the movement associated with these behaviors, but this has little impact on overall performance. Zona incerta neurons distribute a broad corollary signal of movement occurrence to their diverse projection sites, which regulates behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Hormigo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Ji Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Dorian Chabbert
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Sarmad Sajid
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Natan Busel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Manuel Castro-Alamancos
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
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2
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Friedman AD, Yin HH. Selective Activation of Subthalamic Nucleus Output Quantitatively Scales Movements. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7967-7981. [PMID: 37816600 PMCID: PMC10669786 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0734-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a common target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatments of Parkinsonian motor symptoms. According to the dominant model, the STN output can suppress movement by enhancing inhibitory basal ganglia (BG) output via the indirect pathway, and disrupting STN output using DBS can restore movement in Parkinson's patients. But the mechanisms underlying STN DBS remain poorly understood, as previous studies usually relied on electrical stimulation, which cannot selectively target STN output neurons. Here, we selectively stimulated STN projection neurons using optogenetics and quantified behavior in male and female mice using 3D motion capture. STN stimulation resulted in movements with short latencies (10-15 ms). A single pulse of light was sufficient to generate movement, and there was a highly linear relationship between stimulation frequency and kinematic measures. Unilateral stimulation caused movement in the ipsiversive direction (toward the side of stimulation) and quantitatively determined head yaw and head roll, while stimulation of either STN raises the head (pitch). Bilateral stimulation does not cause turning but raised the head twice as high as unilateral stimulation of either STN. Optogenetic stimulation increased the firing rate of STN neurons in a frequency-dependent manner, and the increased firing is responsible for stimulation-induced movements. Finally, stimulation of the STN's projection to the brainstem mesencephalic locomotor region was sufficient to reproduce the behavioral effects of STN stimulation. These results question the common assumption that the STN suppresses movement, and instead suggest that STN output can precisely specify action parameters via direct projections to the brainstem.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Our results question the common assumption that the subthalamic nucleus (STN) suppresses movement, and instead suggest that STN output can precisely specify action parameters via direct projections to the brainstem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D Friedman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
| | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27708
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3
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Zhang S, Mena-Segovia J, Gut NK. Inhibitory Pedunculopontine Neurons Gate Dopamine-Mediated Motor Actions of Unsigned Valence. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 22:CN-EPUB-134388. [PMID: 37702175 PMCID: PMC11097985 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230911103520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) maintains a bidirectional connectivity with the basal ganglia that supports their shared roles in the selection and execution of motor actions. Previous studies identified a role for PPN neurons in goal-directed behavior, but the cellular substrates underlying this function have not been elucidated. We recently revealed the existence of a monosynaptic GABAergic input from the PPN that inhibits dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra. Activation of this pathway interferes with the execution of learned motor sequences when the actions are rewarded, even though the inhibition of dopamine neurons did not shift the value of the action, hence suggesting executive control over the gating of behavior. OBJECTIVE To test the attributes of the inhibition of dopamine neurons by the PPN in the context of goal-directed behavior regardless of whether the outcome is positive or negative. METHODS We delivered optogenetic stimulation to PPN GABAergic axon terminals in the substantia nigra during a battery of behavioral tasks with positive and negative valence. RESULTS Inhibition of dopamine neurons by PPN optogenetic activation during an appetitive task impaired the initiation and overall execution of the behavioral sequence without affecting the consumption of reward. During an active avoidance task, the same activation impaired the ability of mice to avoid a foot shock, but their escape response was unaffected. In addition, responses to potential threats were significantly attenuated. CONCLUSION Our results show that PPN GABAergic neurons modulate learned, goal-directed behavior of unsigned valence without affecting overall motor behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirin Zhang
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Juan Mena-Segovia
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Nadine K. Gut
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
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Herz DM, Brown P. Moving, fast and slow: behavioural insights into bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease. Brain 2023; 146:3576-3586. [PMID: 36864683 PMCID: PMC10473574 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including the hallmark slowness of movement, termed bradykinesia, were described more than 100 years ago. Despite significant advances in elucidating the genetic, molecular and neurobiological changes in Parkinson's disease, it remains conceptually unclear exactly why patients with Parkinson's disease move slowly. To address this, we summarize behavioural observations of movement slowness in Parkinson's disease and discuss these findings in a behavioural framework of optimal control. In this framework, agents optimize the time it takes to gather and harvest rewards by adapting their movement vigour according to the reward that is at stake and the effort that needs to be expended. Thus, slow movements can be favourable when the reward is deemed unappealing or the movement very costly. While reduced reward sensitivity, which makes patients less inclined to work for reward, has been reported in Parkinson's disease, this appears to be related mainly to motivational deficits (apathy) rather than bradykinesia. Increased effort sensitivity has been proposed to underlie movement slowness in Parkinson's disease. However, careful behavioural observations of bradykinesia are inconsistent with abnormal computations of effort costs due to accuracy constraints or movement energetic expenditure. These inconsistencies can be resolved when considering that a general disability to switch between stable and dynamic movement states can contribute to an abnormal composite effort cost related to movement in Parkinson's disease. This can account for paradoxical observations such as the abnormally slow relaxation of isometric contractions or difficulties in halting a movement in Parkinson's disease, both of which increase movement energy expenditure. A sound understanding of the abnormal behavioural computations mediating motor impairment in Parkinson's disease will be vital for linking them to their underlying neural dynamics in distributed brain networks and for grounding future experimental studies in well-defined behavioural frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian M Herz
- MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
- Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Peter Brown
- MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TH, UK
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5
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Bakhurin KI, Hughes RN, Jiang Q, Hossain M, Gutkin B, Fallon IP, Yin H. Force tuning explains changes in phasic dopamine signaling during stimulus-reward learning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.23.537994. [PMID: 37162997 PMCID: PMC10168281 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.23.537994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
According to a popular hypothesis, phasic dopamine (DA) activity encodes a reward prediction error (RPE) necessary for reinforcement learning. However, recent work showed that DA neurons are necessary for performance rather than learning. One limitation of previous work on phasic DA signaling and RPE is the limited behavioral measures. Here, we measured subtle force exertion while recording and manipulating DA activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) during stimulus-reward learning. We found two major populations of DA neurons that increased firing before forward and backward force exertion. Force tuning is the same regardless of learning, reward predictability, or outcome valence. Changes in the pattern of force exertion can explain results traditionally used to support the RPE hypothesis, such as modulation by reward magnitude, probability, and unpredicted reward delivery or omission. Thus VTA DA neurons are not used to signal RPE but to regulate force exertion during motivated behavior.
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6
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Rotaru DC, Wallaard I, de Vries M, van der Bie J, Elgersma Y. UBE3A expression during early postnatal brain development is required for proper dorsomedial striatal maturation. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e166073. [PMID: 36810252 PMCID: PMC9977510 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.166073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) caused by loss of functional ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A). Previous studies showed that UBE3A plays an important role in the first postnatal weeks of mouse brain development, but its precise role is unknown. Since impaired striatal maturation has been implicated in several mouse models for NDDs, we studied the importance of UBE3A in striatal maturation. We used inducible Ube3a mouse models to investigate the maturation of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) from dorsomedial striatum. MSNs of mutant mice matured properly till postnatal day 15 (P15) but remained hyperexcitable with fewer excitatory synaptic events at later ages, indicative of stalled striatal maturation in Ube3a mice. Reinstatement of UBE3A expression at P21 fully restored MSN excitability but only partially restored synaptic transmission and the operant conditioning behavioral phenotype. Gene reinstatement at P70 failed to rescue both electrophysiological and behavioral phenotypes. In contrast, deletion of Ube3a after normal brain development did not result in these electrophysiological and behavioral phenotypes. This study emphasizes the role of UBE3A in striatal maturation and the importance of early postnatal reinstatement of UBE3A expression to obtain a full rescue of behavioral phenotypes associated with striatal function in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C. Rotaru
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ilse Wallaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maud de Vries
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Julia van der Bie
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Clinical Genetics and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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7
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Zheng ZS, Reggente N, Monti MM. Arousal Regulation by the External Globus Pallidus: A New Node for the Mesocircuit Hypothesis. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13010146. [PMID: 36672127 PMCID: PMC9856495 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the decade since its debut, the Mesocircuit Hypothesis (MH) has provided researchers a scaffolding for interpreting their findings by associating subcortical-cortical dysfunction with the loss and recovery of consciousness following severe brain injury. Here, we leverage new findings from human and rodent lesions, as well as chemo/optogenetic, tractography, and stimulation studies to propose the external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe) as an additional node in the MH, in hopes of increasing its explanatory power. Specifically, we discuss the anatomical and molecular mechanisms involving the GPe in sleep-wake control and propose a plausible mechanistic model explaining how the GPe can modulate cortical activity through its direct connections with the prefrontal cortex and thalamic reticular nucleus to initiate and maintain sleep. The inclusion of the GPe in the arousal circuitry has implications for understanding a range of phenomena, such as the effects of the adenosine (A2A) and dopamine (D2) receptors on sleep-wake cycles, the paradoxical effects of zolpidem in disorders of consciousness, and sleep disturbances in conditions such as Parkinson's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Sheng Zheng
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospitals and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA 91767, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-909-596-7733 (ext. 2279)
| | - Nicco Reggente
- Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA
| | - Martin M. Monti
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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8
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A one-photon endoscope for simultaneous patterned optogenetic stimulation and calcium imaging in freely behaving mice. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 7:499-510. [PMID: 35970930 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00920-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics and calcium imaging can be combined to simultaneously stimulate and record neural activity in vivo. However, this usually requires two-photon microscopes, which are not portable nor affordable. Here we report the design and implementation of a miniaturized one-photon endoscope for performing simultaneous optogenetic stimulation and calcium imaging. By integrating digital micromirrors, the endoscope makes it possible to activate any neuron of choice within the field of view, and to apply arbitrary spatiotemporal patterns of photostimulation while imaging calcium activity. We used the endoscope to image striatal neurons from either the direct pathway or the indirect pathway in freely moving mice while activating any chosen neuron in the field of view. The endoscope also allows for the selection of neurons based on their relationship with specific animal behaviour, and to recreate the behaviour by mimicking the natural neural activity with photostimulation. The miniaturized endoscope may facilitate the study of how neural activity gives rise to behaviour in freely moving animals.
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9
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Yadav D, Kumar P. Restoration and targeting of aberrant neurotransmitters in Parkinson's disease therapeutics. Neurochem Int 2022; 156:105327. [PMID: 35331828 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurotransmitters are considered as a fundamental regulator in the process of neuronal growth, differentiation and survival. Parkinson's Disease (PD) occurs due to extensive damage of dopamine-producing neurons; this causes dopamine deficits in the midbrain, followed by the alternation of various other neurotransmitters (glutamate, GABA, serotonin, etc.). It has been observed that fluctuation of neurotransmission in the basal ganglia exhibits a great impact on the pathophysiology of PD. Dopamine replacement therapy, such as the use of L-DOPA, can increase the dopamine level, but it majorly ameliorates the motor symptoms and is also associated with long-term complications (for e.g., LID). While the non-dopaminergic system can efficiently target non-motor symptoms, for instance, the noradrenergic system regulates the synthesis of BDNF via the MAPK pathway, which is important in learning and memory. Herein, we briefly discuss the role of different neurotransmitters, implementation of neurotransmitter receptors in PD. We also illustrate the recent advances of neurotransmitter-based drugs, which are currently under in vivo and clinical studies. Reinstating normal neurotransmitter levels has been believed to be advantageous in the treatment of PD. Thus, there is an increasing demand for drugs that can specifically target the neurotransmission system and reinstate the normal levels of neurotransmitters, which might prevent or delay neurodegeneration in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Yadav
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi, India; Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi, India; Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Delhi, 110042, India.
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10
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Verduzco-Flores S, Dorrell W, De Schutter E. A differential Hebbian framework for biologically-plausible motor control. Neural Netw 2022; 150:237-258. [PMID: 35325677 DOI: 10.1016/j.neunet.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In this paper we explore a neural control architecture that is both biologically plausible, and capable of fully autonomous learning. It consists of feedback controllers that learn to achieve a desired state by selecting the errors that should drive them. This selection happens through a family of differential Hebbian learning rules that, through interaction with the environment, can learn to control systems where the error responds monotonically to the control signal. We next show that in a more general case, neural reinforcement learning can be coupled with a feedback controller to reduce errors that arise non-monotonically from the control signal. The use of feedback control can reduce the complexity of the reinforcement learning problem, because only a desired value must be learned, with the controller handling the details of how it is reached. This makes the function to be learned simpler, potentially allowing learning of more complex actions. We use simple examples to illustrate our approach, and discuss how it could be extended to hierarchical architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Verduzco-Flores
- Computational Neuroscience Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan.
| | - William Dorrell
- Computational Neuroscience Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Erik De Schutter
- Computational Neuroscience Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
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11
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Pimentel-Farfan AK, Báez-Cordero AS, Peña-Rangel TM, Rueda-Orozco PE. Cortico-striatal circuits for bilaterally coordinated movements. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk2241. [PMID: 35245127 PMCID: PMC8896801 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk2241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Movement initiation and control require the orchestrated activity of sensorimotor cortical and subcortical regions. However, the exact contribution of specific pathways and interactions to the final behavioral outcome are still under debate. Here, by combining structural lesions, pathway-specific optogenetic manipulations and freely moving electrophysiological recordings in rats, we studied cortico-striatal interactions in the context of forelimb bilaterally coordinated movements. We provide evidence indicating that bilateral actions are initiated by motor cortical regions where intratelencephalic bilateral cortico-striatal (bcs-IT) projections recruit the sensorimotor striatum to provide stability and duration to already commanded bilateral movements. Furthermore, striatal spiking activity was correlated with movement duration and kinematic parameters of the execution. bcs-IT stimulation affected only the representation of movement duration but spared that of kinematics. Our findings confirm the modular organization of information processing in the striatum and its involvement in moment-to-moment movement control but not initiation or selection.
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12
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Sosa R, Alcalá E. The nervous system as a solution for implementing closed negative feedback control loops. J Exp Anal Behav 2022; 117:279-300. [PMID: 35119112 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Behavior can be regarded as the output of a system (action), as a function linking stimulus to response (reaction), or as an abstraction of the bidirectional relationship between the environment and the organism (interaction). When considering the latter possibility, a relevant question arises concerning how an organism can materially and continuously implement such a relationship during its lifetime in order to perpetuate itself. The feedback control approach has taken up the task of answering just that question. During the last several decades, said approach has been progressing and has started to be recognized as a paradigm shift, superseding certain canonical notions in mainstream behavior analysis, cognitive psychology, and even neuroscience. In this paper, we describe the main features of feedback control theory and its associated techniques, concentrating on its critiques of behavior analysis, as well as the commonalities they share. While some of feedback control theory's major critiques of behavior analysis arise from the fact that they focus on different levels of organization, we believe that some are legitimate and meaningful. Moreover, feedback control theory seems to blend with neurobiology more smoothly as compared to canonical behavior analysis, which only subsists in a scattered handful of fields. If this paradigm shift truly takes place, behavior analysts-whether they accept or reject this new currency-should be mindful of the basics of the feedback control approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emmanuel Alcalá
- Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente, Guadalajara, México
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13
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Enhanced habit formation in Tourette patients explained by shortcut modulation in a hierarchical cortico-basal ganglia model. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:1031-1050. [PMID: 35113242 PMCID: PMC8930794 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Devaluation protocols reveal that Tourette patients show an increased propensity to habitual behaviors as they continue to respond to devalued outcomes in a cognitive stimulus-response-outcome association task. We use a neuro-computational model of hierarchically organized cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loops to shed more light on habit formation and its alteration in Tourette patients. In our model, habitual behavior emerges from cortico-thalamic shortcut connections, where enhanced habit formation can be linked to faster plasticity in the shortcut or to a stronger feedback from the shortcut to the basal ganglia. We explore two major hypotheses of Tourette pathophysiology-local striatal disinhibition and increased dopaminergic modulation of striatal medium spiny neurons-as causes for altered shortcut activation. Both model changes altered shortcut functioning and resulted in higher rates of responses towards devalued outcomes, similar to what is observed in Tourette patients. We recommend future experimental neuroscientific studies to locate shortcuts between cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loops in the human brain and study their potential role in health and disease.
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14
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Di Rienzo F, Joassy P, Ferreira Dias Kanthack T, Moncel F, Mercier Q, Collet C, Guillot A. Stabilometric Correlates of Motor and Motor Imagery Expertise. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 15:741709. [PMID: 35095444 PMCID: PMC8792864 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.741709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor Imagery (MI) reproduces cognitive operations associated with the actual motor preparation and execution. Postural recordings during MI reflect somatic motor commands targeting peripheral effectors involved in balance control. However, how these relate to the actual motor expertise and may vary along with the MI modality remains debated. In the present experiment, two groups of expert and non-expert gymnasts underwent stabilometric assessments while performing physically and mentally a balance skill. We implemented psychometric measures of MI ability, while stabilometric variables were calculated from the center of pressure (COP) oscillations. Psychometric evaluations revealed greater MI ability in experts, specifically for the visual modality. Experts exhibited reduced surface COP oscillations in the antero-posterior axis compared to non-experts during the balance skill (14.90%, 95% CI 34.48–4.68, p < 0.05). Experts further exhibited reduced length of COP displacement in the antero-posterior axis and as a function of the displacement area during visual and kinesthetic MI compared to the control condition (20.51%, 95% CI 0.99–40.03 and 21.85%, 95% CI 2.33–41.37, respectively, both p < 0.05). Predictive relationships were found between the stabilometric correlates of visual MI and physical practice of the balance skill, as well as between the stabilometric correlates of kinesthetic MI and the training experience in experts. Present results provide original stabilometric insights into the relationships between MI and expertise level. While data support the incomplete inhibition of postural commands during MI, whether postural responses during MI of various modalities mirror the level of motor expertise remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Di Rienzo
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
- *Correspondence: Franck Di Rienzo
| | - Pierric Joassy
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Thiago Ferreira Dias Kanthack
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - François Moncel
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Quentin Mercier
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Christian Collet
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Aymeric Guillot
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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15
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Rodriguez-Sabate C, Morales I, Rodriguez M. The Influence of Aging on the Functional Connectivity of the Human Basal Ganglia. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:785666. [PMID: 35095470 PMCID: PMC8789673 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.785666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although basal ganglia (BG) are involved in the motor disorders of aged people, the effect of aging on the functional interaction of BG is not well-known. This work was aimed at studying the influence of aging on the functional connectivity of the motor circuit of BG (BGmC). Thirty healthy volunteers were studied (young-group 26.4 ± 5.7 years old; aged-group 63.1 ± 5.8 years old) with a procedure planned to prevent the spurious functional connectivity induced by the closed-loop arrangement of the BGmC. BG showed different functional interactions during the inter-task intervals and when subjects did not perform any voluntary task. Aging induced marked changes in the functional connectivity of the BGmC during these inter-task intervals. The finger movements changed the functional connectivity of the BG, these modifications were also different in the aged-group. Taken together, these data show a marked effect of aging on the functional connectivity of the BGmC, and these effects may be at the basis of the motor handicaps of aged people during the execution of motor-tasks and when they are not performing any voluntary motor task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Rodriguez-Sabate
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Madrid, Spain
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Ingrid Morales
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Madrid, Spain
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Manuel Rodriguez
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Madrid, Spain
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- *Correspondence: Manuel Rodriguez
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16
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Lee S, Smith PF, Lee WH, McKeown MJ. Frequency-Specific Effects of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation on Response-Time Performance in Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurol 2021; 12:758122. [PMID: 34795633 PMCID: PMC8593161 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.758122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is being increasingly explored as a non-invasive brain stimulation technique to treat symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). To date, behavioral GVS effects in PD have been explored with only two stimulus types, direct current and random noise (RN). The interaction between GVS effects and anti-parkinsonian medication is unknown. In the present study, we designed multisine (ms) stimuli and investigated the effects of ms and RN GVS on motor response time. In comparison to the RN stimulus, the ms stimuli contained sinusoidal components only at a set of desired frequencies and the phases were optimized to improve participants' comfort. We hypothesized GVS motor effects were a function of stimulation frequency, and specifically, that band-limited ms-GVS would result in better motor performance than conventionally used broadband RN-GVS. Materials and Methods: Eighteen PD patients (PDMOFF/PDMON: off-/on-levodopa medication) and 20 healthy controls (HC) performed a simple reaction time task while receiving sub-threshold GVS. Each participant underwent nine stimulation conditions: off-stimulation, RN (4–200 Hz), ms-θ (4–8 Hz), ms-α (8–13 Hz), ms-β (13–30 Hz), ms-γ (30–50 Hz), ms-h1 (50–100 Hz), ms-h2 (100–150 Hz), and ms-h3 (150–200 Hz). Results: The ms-γ resulted in shorter response time (RPT) in both PDMOFF and HC groups compared with the RN. In addition, the RPT of the PDMOFF group decreased during the ms-β while the RPT of the HC group decreased during the ms-α, ms-h1, ms-h2, and ms-h3. There was considerable inter-subject variability in the optimum stimulus type, although the frequency range tended to fall within 8–100 Hz. Levodopa medication significantly reduced the baseline RPT of the PD patients. In contrast to the off-medication state, GVS did not significantly change RPT of the PD patients in the on-medication state. Conclusions: Using band-limited ms-GVS, we demonstrated that the GVS frequency for the best RPT varied considerably across participants and was >30 Hz for half of the PDMOFF patients. Moreover, dopaminergic medication was found to influence GVS effects in PD patients. Our results indicate the common “one-size-fits-all” RN approach is suboptimal for PD, and therefore personalized stimuli aiming to address this variability is warranted to improve GVS effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soojin Lee
- Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul F Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Won Hee Lee
- Department of Software Convergence, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Martin J McKeown
- Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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17
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Bermperidis T, Rai R, Ryu J, Zanotto D, Agrawal SK, Lalwani AK, Torres EB. Optimal time lags from causal prediction model help stratify and forecast nervous system pathology. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20904. [PMID: 34686679 PMCID: PMC8536772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00156-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional clinical approaches diagnose disorders of the nervous system using standardized observational criteria. Although aiming for homogeneity of symptoms, this method often results in highly heterogeneous disorders. A standing question thus is how to automatically stratify a given random cohort of the population, such that treatment can be better tailored to each cluster's symptoms, and severity of any given group forecasted to provide neuroprotective therapies. In this work we introduce new methods to automatically stratify a random cohort of the population composed of healthy controls of different ages and patients with different disorders of the nervous systems. Using a simple walking task and measuring micro-fluctuations in their biorhythmic motions, we combine non-linear causal network connectivity analyses in the temporal and frequency domains with stochastic mapping. The methods define a new type of internal motor timings. These are amenable to create personalized clinical interventions tailored to self-emerging clusters signaling fundamentally different types of gait pathologies. We frame our results using the principle of reafference and operationalize them using causal prediction, thus renovating the theory of internal models for the study of neuromotor control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richa Rai
- Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA
| | - Jihye Ryu
- Neurosurgery Department, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Damiano Zanotto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, USA
| | - Sunil K Agrawal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Department of Rehabilitative and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Anil K Lalwani
- New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA.,Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth B Torres
- Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA. .,Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Science (RUCCS), Piscataway, USA. .,Computational Biomedicine Imaging and Modelling, Piscataway, USA.
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18
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Achieving natural behavior in a robot using neurally inspired hierarchical perceptual control. iScience 2021; 24:102948. [PMID: 34522850 PMCID: PMC8426206 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial locomotion presents tremendous computational challenges on account of the enormous degrees of freedom in legged animals, and complex, unpredictable properties of natural environments, including the body and its effectors, yet the nervous system can achieve locomotion with ease. Here we introduce a quadrupedal robot that is capable of posture control and goal-directed locomotion across uneven terrain. The control architecture is a hierarchical network of simple negative feedback control systems inspired by the organization of the vertebrate nervous system. This robot is capable of robust posture control and locomotion in novel environments with unpredictable disturbances. Unlike current robots, our robot does not use internal inverse and forward models, nor does it require any training in order to perform successfully in novel environments. Inspired by a neural hierarchy with control of input at each level Higher level specifies reference state for lower level Successful posture control and locomotion despite unpredictable disturbances No need for training or computation of inverse or forward kinematics
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19
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Bidirectional Control of Orienting Behavior by the Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata: Distinct Significance of Head and Whisker Movements. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0165-21.2021. [PMID: 34544763 PMCID: PMC8532345 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0165-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of an unexpected, novel, or salient stimulus typically leads to an orienting response by which animals move the head, in concert with the sensors (e.g., eyes, pinna, whiskers), to evaluate the stimulus. The basal ganglia are known to control orienting movements through tonically active GABAergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) that project to the superior colliculus. Using optogenetics, we explored the ability of GABAergic SNr neurons on one side of the brain to generate orienting movements. In a strain of mice that express channelrhodopsin (ChR2) in both SNr GABAergic neurons and afferent fibers, we found that continuous blue light produced a robust sustained excitation of SNr neurons which generated ipsiversive orienting. Conversely, in the same animal, trains of blue light excited afferent fibers more effectively than continuous blue light, producing a robust sustained inhibition of SNr neurons which generated contraversive orienting. When ChR2 expression was restricted to either GABAergic SNr neurons or GABAergic afferent fibers from the striatum, blue light patterns in SNr produced only ipsiversive or contraversive orienting movements, respectively. Interestingly, whisker positioning and the reaction to an air-puff on the whiskers were incongruent between SNr-evoked ipsiversive and contraversive head movements, indicating that orienting driven by exciting or inhibiting SNr neurons have different behavioral significance. In conclusion, unilateral SNr neuron excitation and inhibition produce orienting movements in opposite directions and, apparently, with distinct behavioral significance.
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20
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The causal interaction in human basal ganglia. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12989. [PMID: 34155321 PMCID: PMC8217174 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92490-8] [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: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The experimental study of the human brain has important restrictions, particularly in the case of basal ganglia, subcortical centers whose activity can be recorded with fMRI methods but cannot be directly modified. Similar restrictions occur in other complex systems such as those studied by Earth system science. The present work studied the cause/effect relationships between human basal ganglia with recently introduced methods to study climate dynamics. Data showed an exhaustive (identifying basal ganglia interactions regardless of their linear, non-linear or complex nature) and selective (avoiding spurious relationships) view of basal ganglia activity, showing a fast functional reconfiguration of their main centers during the execution of voluntary motor tasks. The methodology used here offers a novel view of the human basal ganglia which expands the perspective provided by the classical basal ganglia model and may help to understand BG activity under normal and pathological conditions.
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21
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Iqbal A, Mansell W. A Thematic Analysis of Multiple Pathways Between Nature Engagement Activities and Well-Being. Front Psychol 2021; 12:580992. [PMID: 33841228 PMCID: PMC8032872 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.580992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research studies have identified various different mechanisms in the effects of nature engagement on well-being and mental health. However, rarely are multiple pathways examined in the same study and little use has been made of first-hand, experiential accounts through interviews. Therefore, a semi-structured interview was conducted with seven female students who identified the role of nature engagement in their well-being and mental health. After applying thematic analysis, 11 themes were extracted from the data set, which were: “enjoying the different sensory input,” “calm nature facilitates a calm mood,” “enhancing decision making and forming action plans,” “enhancing efficiency and productivity,” “alleviating pressure from society's expectations regarding education,” “formation of community relations,” “nature puts things into perspective,” “liking the contrast from the urban environment,” “feel freedom,” “coping mechanism,” and “anxious if prevented or restricted.” The results indicate complementary mechanisms for how nature-related activities benefit mental health and well-being that may occupy different levels of experience within a hierarchical framework informed by perceptual control theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anam Iqbal
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Warren Mansell
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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22
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Association between Cardiac Autonomic Control and Postural Control in Patients with Parkinson's Disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 18:ijerph18010249. [PMID: 33396272 PMCID: PMC7796175 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects postural and cardiac autonomic control. However, since it is unknown whether these changes are associated, the objective of this study was to determine whether such a relationship exists. Twenty-three patients with PD participated. The RR intervals were recorded in different positions and heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed. Postural sway was analyzed based on the center of pressure. No significant differences on HRV indices were induced by postural change. A correlation was found between these indices and postural control, high frequency (HF), and anterior-posterior (AP) root mean square (RMS-AP) (r = 0.422, p = 0.045), low frequency (LF)/HF, and AP mean velocity (r = 0.478, p = 0.021). A correlation was found between HRV induced by postural change and postural control, Δ LF/HF and RMS-AP (r = 0.448, p = 0.032), Δ LF/HF and ellipse area (r = 0.505, p = 0.014), Δ LF/HF and AP mean velocity (r = −0.531; p = 0.009), and Δ LF and AP mean velocity (r = −0.424, p = 0.044). There is an association between the autonomic and postural systems, such that PD patients with blunted cardiac autonomic function in both the supine and orthostatic positions have worse postural control.
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23
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Basal Ganglia Output Has a Permissive Non-Driving Role in a Signaled Locomotor Action Mediated by the Midbrain. J Neurosci 2020; 41:1529-1552. [PMID: 33328292 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1067-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The basal ganglia are important for movement and reinforcement learning. Using mice of either sex, we found that the main basal ganglia GABAergic output in the midbrain, the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), shows movement-related neural activity during the expression of a negatively reinforced signaled locomotor action known as signaled active avoidance; this action involves mice moving away during a warning signal to avoid a threat. In particular, many SNr neurons deactivate during active avoidance responses. However, whether SNr deactivation has an essential role driving or regulating active avoidance responses is unknown. We found that optogenetic excitation of SNr or striatal GABAergic fibers that project to an area in the pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPT) within the midbrain locomotor region abolishes signaled active avoidance responses, while optogenetic inhibition of SNr cells (mimicking the SNr deactivation observed during an active avoidance behavior) serves as an effective conditioned stimulus signal to drive avoidance responses by disinhibiting PPT neurons. However, preclusion of SNr deactivation, or direct inhibition of SNr fibers in the PPT, does not impair the expression of signaled active avoidance, indicating that SNr output does not drive the expression of a signaled locomotor action mediated by the midbrain. Consistent with a permissive regulatory role, SNr output provides information about the state of the ongoing action to downstream structures that mediate the action.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT During signaled active avoidance behavior, subjects move away to avoid a threat when directed by an innocuous sensory stimulus. Excitation of GABAergic cells in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), the main output of the basal ganglia, blocks signaled active avoidance, while inhibition of SNr cells is an effective stimulus to drive active avoidance. Interestingly, many SNr cells inhibit their firing during active avoidance responses, suggesting that SNr inhibition could be driving avoidance responses by disinhibiting downstream areas. However, interfering with the modulation of SNr cells does not impair the behavior. Thus, SNr may regulate the active avoidance movement in downstream areas that mediate the behavior, but does not drive it.
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24
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Brown KA, Spencer KA. The Relationship Between Speech Characteristics and Motor Subtypes of Parkinson's Disease. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2020; 29:2145-2154. [PMID: 32997516 DOI: 10.1044/2020_ajslp-20-00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to examine whether acoustic dysarthria characteristics align with overall motor profile in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Potential speech differences between tremor-dominant and non-tremor-dominant subtypes are theoretically motivated but empirically inconclusive. Method Twenty-seven individuals with dysarthria from PD provided a contextual speech sample. Participants were grouped into non-tremor-dominant (n = 12) and tremor-dominant (n = 15) motor subtypes according to the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. Dependent speech variables included fundamental frequency range, average pause duration, cepstral peak prominence, stuttering dysfluencies, and maze dysfluencies. Results There were no significant differences between the speech of the tremor-dominant and non-tremor-dominant groups. High within-group variability existed across parameters and motor subtypes. Conclusion Speech characteristics across the areas of phonation, prosody, and fluency did not differ appreciably between PD motor subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Brown
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Kristie A Spencer
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle
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25
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Grisham W, Greta S, Schottler N, Tomita W, Burre A, Rostamian D, Pishchalenko O, Thomas ST. Brain Volume Fractions in Mammals in Relation to Behavior in Carnivores, Primates, Ungulates, and Rodents. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2020; 95:102-112. [PMID: 32862179 DOI: 10.1159/000509579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The volume fraction (VF) of a given brain region, or the proper mass, ought to reflect the importance of that region in the life of a given species. This study sought to examine the VF of various brain regions across 61 different species of mammals to discern if there were regularities or differences among mammalian orders. We examined the brains of carnivores (n = 17), ungulates (n = 8), rodents (n = 7), primates (n = 11), and other mammals (n = 18) from the online collections at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. We measured and obtained the VF of several brain regions: the striatum, thalamus, neocortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and piriform area. We refined our analyses by using phylogenetic size correction, yielding the corrected (c)VF. Our groups showed marked differences in gross brain architecture. Primates and carnivores were divergent in some measures, particularly the cVF of the striatum, even though their overall brain size range was roughly the same. Rodents predictably had relatively large cVFs of subcortical structures due to the fact that their neocortical cVF was smaller, particularly when compared to primates. Not so predictably, rodents had the largest cerebellar cVF, and there were marked discrepancies in cerebellar data across groups. Ungulates had a larger piriform area than primates, perhaps due to their olfactory processing abilities. We provide interpretations of our results in the light of the comparative behavioral and neuroanatomical literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Grisham
- Psychology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, Louisiana, USA,
| | - Sarah Greta
- Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Natalie Schottler
- Psychology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, Louisiana, USA
| | - William Tomita
- Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anthony Burre
- Neuroscience, WM Keck Science Department, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Dalar Rostamian
- Psychology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, Louisiana, USA
| | - Olena Pishchalenko
- Psychology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, Louisiana, USA
| | - Sarah T Thomas
- Computational and Systems Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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26
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Mediodorsal Thalamus Contributes to the Timing of Instrumental Actions. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6379-6388. [PMID: 32493711 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0695-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The perception of time is critical to adaptive behavior. While prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia have been implicated in interval timing in the seconds to minutes range, little is known about the role of the mediodorsal thalamus (MD), which is a key component of the limbic cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop. In this study, we tested the role of the MD in timing, using an operant temporal production task in male mice. In this task, that the expected timing of available rewards is indicated by lever pressing. Inactivation of the MD with muscimol produced rightward shifts in peak pressing on probe trials as well as increases in peak spread, thus significantly altering both temporal accuracy and precision. Optogenetic inhibition of glutamatergic projection neurons in the MD also resulted in similar changes in timing. The observed effects were found to be independent of significant changes in movement. Our findings suggest that the MD is a critical component of the neural circuit for interval timing, without playing a direct role in regulating ongoing performance.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The mediodorsal nucleus (MD) of the thalamus is strongly connected with the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, areas which have been implicated in interval timing. Previous work has shown that the MD contributes to working memory and learning of action-outcome contingencies, but its role in behavioral timing is poorly understood. Using an operant temporal production task, we showed that inactivation of the MD significantly impaired timing behavior.
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27
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Bakhurin KI, Li X, Friedman AD, Lusk NA, Watson GD, Kim N, Yin HH. Opponent regulation of action performance and timing by striatonigral and striatopallidal pathways. eLife 2020; 9:e54831. [PMID: 32324535 PMCID: PMC7180055 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal ganglia have been implicated in action selection and timing, but the relative contributions of the striatonigral (direct) and striatopallidal (indirect) pathways to these functions remain unclear. We investigated the effects of optogenetic stimulation of D1+ (direct) and A2A+ (indirect) neurons in the ventrolateral striatum in head-fixed mice on a fixed time reinforcement schedule. Direct pathway stimulation initiates licking, whereas indirect pathway stimulation suppresses licking and results in rebound licking after stimulation. Moreover, direct and indirect pathways also play distinct roles in timing. Direct pathway stimulation produced a resetting of the internal timing process, whereas indirect pathway stimulation transiently paused timing, and proportionally delayed the next bout of licking. Our results provide evidence for the continuous and opposing contributions of the direct and indirect pathways in the production and timing of reward-guided behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Alexander D Friedman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Nicholas A Lusk
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Glenn Dr Watson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Namsoo Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, United States
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28
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Hughes RN, Bakhurin KI, Barter JW, Zhang J, Yin HH. A Head-Fixation System for Continuous Monitoring of Force Generated During Behavior. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:11. [PMID: 32210772 PMCID: PMC7076082 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies in neuroscience use head-fixed behavioral preparations, which confer a number of advantages, including the ability to limit the behavioral repertoire and use techniques for large-scale monitoring of neural activity. But traditional studies using this approach use extremely limited behavioral measures, in part because it is difficult to detect the subtle movements and postural adjustments that animals naturally exhibit during head fixation. Here we report a new head-fixed setup with analog load cells capable of precisely monitoring the continuous forces exerted by mice. The load cells reveal the dynamic nature of movements generated not only around the time of task-relevant events, such as presentation of stimuli and rewards, but also during periods in between these events, when there is no apparent overt behavior. It generates a new and rich set of behavioral measures that have been neglected in previous experiments. We detail the construction of the system, which can be 3D-printed and assembled at low cost, show behavioral results collected from head-fixed mice, and demonstrate that neural activity can be highly correlated with the subtle, whole-body movements continuously produced during head restraint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan N Hughes
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Konstantin I Bakhurin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Joseph W Barter
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jinyong Zhang
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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29
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Intracranial iron distribution and quantification in aceruloplasminemia: A case study. Magn Reson Imaging 2020; 70:29-35. [PMID: 32114188 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2020.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Aceruloplasminemia (ACP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by intracranial and visceral iron overload. With R2*-based imaging or quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), it is feasible to measure iron in the brain quantitatively, although to date this has not yet been done for patients with ACP. The aim of this study was to provide quantitative iron measurements for each affected brain region in an ACP patient with the potential to do so in all future ACP patients. This may shed light on the link between brain iron metabolism and the territories affected by ceruloplasmin function. METHODS We imaged a patient with ACP using a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner with a fifteen-channel head coil. We manually demarcated gray matter and white matter on the Strategically Acquired Gradient Echo (STAGE) images, and calculated values for susceptibility and R2* in these regions. Correlation analysis was performed between the R2* values and the susceptibility values. RESULTS Besides the usual territories affected in ACP, we also discovered that the mammillary bodies and the lateral habenulae had significant increases in iron, and the hippocampus was severely affected both in terms of iron content and abnormal tissue signal. We also noted that the iron in the cortical gray matter appeared to be deposited in the inner layers. Moreover, several pathways between the superior colliculus and the pulvinar thalamus, between the caudate and putamen anteriorly and between the caudate and pulvinar thalamus posteriorly were also evident. Finally, R2* correlated strongly with the QSM data (R2 = 0.67, t = 6.78, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION QSM and R2* have proven to be sensitive and quantitative means by which to measure iron content in the brain. Our findings included several newly noted affected brain regions of iron overload and provided some new aspects of iron metabolism in ACP that may be further applicable to other pathologic conditions. Furthermore, our study may pave the way for assessing efficacy of iron chelation therapy in these patients and for other common iron related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Rodriguez-Sabate C, Morales I, Puertas-Avendaño R, Rodriguez M. The dynamic of basal ganglia activity with a multiple covariance method: influences of Parkinson's disease. Brain Commun 2019; 2:fcz044. [PMID: 32954313 PMCID: PMC7425309 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcz044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The closed-loop cortico-subcortical pathways of basal ganglia have been extensively used to describe the physiology of these centres and to justify the functional disorders of basal ganglia diseases. This approach justifies some experimental and clinical data but not others, and furthermore, it does not include a number of subcortical circuits that may produce a more complex basal ganglia dynamic than that expected for closed-loop linear networks. This work studied the functional connectivity of the main regions of the basal ganglia motor circuit with magnetic resonance imaging and a new method (functional profile method), which can analyse the multiple covariant activity of human basal ganglia. The functional profile method identified the most frequent covariant functional status (profiles) of the basal ganglia motor circuit, ordering them according to their relative frequency and identifying the most frequent successions between profiles (profile transitions). The functional profile method classified profiles as input profiles that accept the information coming from other networks, output profiles involved in the output of processed information to other networks and highly interconnected internal profiles that accept transitions from input profiles and send transitions to output profiles. Profile transitions showed a previously unobserved functional dynamic of human basal ganglia, suggesting that the basal ganglia motor circuit may work as a dynamic multiple covariance network. The number of internal profiles and internal transitions showed a striking decrease in patients with Parkinson’s disease, a fact not observed for input and output profiles. This suggests that basal ganglia of patients with Parkinson’s disease respond to requirements coming from other neuronal networks, but because the internal processing of information is drastically weakened, its response will be insufficient and perhaps also self-defeating. These marked effects were found in patients with few motor disorders, suggesting that the functional profile method may be an early procedure to detect the first stages of the Parkinson’s disease when the motor disorders are not very evident. The multiple covariance activity found presents a complementary point of view to the cortico-subcortical closed-loop model of basal ganglia. The functional profile method may be easily applied to other brain networks, and it may provide additional explanations for the clinical manifestations of other basal ganglia disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Rodriguez-Sabate
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands 28907, Spain.,Center for Networked Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid 28031, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Getafe University Hospital, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Ingrid Morales
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands 28907, Spain.,Center for Networked Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Ricardo Puertas-Avendaño
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands 28907, Spain
| | - Manuel Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands 28907, Spain.,Center for Networked Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid 28031, Spain
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Hughes RN, Watson GDR, Petter EA, Kim N, Bakhurin KI, Yin HH. Precise Coordination of Three-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics by Ventral Tegmental Area GABAergic Neurons. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3244-3255.e4. [PMID: 31564491 PMCID: PMC7001733 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a midbrain region implicated in a variety of motivated behaviors. However, the function of VTA GABAergic (Vgat+) neurons remains poorly understood. Here, using three-dimensional motion capture, in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging, and optogenetics, we demonstrate a novel function of VTAVgat+ neurons. We found three distinct populations of neurons, each representing head angle about a principal axis of rotation: yaw, roll, and pitch. For each axis, opponent cell groups were found that increase firing when the head moves in one direction and decrease firing in the opposite direction. Selective excitation and inhibition of VTAVgat+ neurons generate opposite rotational movements. Thus, VTAVgat+ neurons serve a critical role in the control of rotational kinematics while pursuing a moving target. This general-purpose steering function can guide animals toward desired spatial targets in any motivated behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan N Hughes
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Glenn D R Watson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Elijah A Petter
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Namsoo Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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A striatal interneuron circuit for continuous target pursuit. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2715. [PMID: 31222009 PMCID: PMC6586681 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10716-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Most adaptive behaviors require precise tracking of targets in space. In pursuit behavior with a moving target, mice use distance to target to guide their own movement continuously. Here, we show that in the sensorimotor striatum, parvalbumin-positive fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) can represent the distance between self and target during pursuit behavior, while striatal projection neurons (SPNs), which receive FSI projections, can represent self-velocity. FSIs are shown to regulate velocity-related SPN activity during pursuit, so that movement velocity is continuously modulated by distance to target. Moreover, bidirectional manipulation of FSI activity can selectively disrupt performance by increasing or decreasing the self-target distance. Our results reveal a key role of the FSI-SPN interneuron circuit in pursuit behavior and elucidate how this circuit implements distance to velocity transformation required for the critical underlying computation. Many natural behaviours involve tracking of a target in space. Here, the authors describe a task to assess this behaviour in mice and use in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, and chemogenetics to investigate the role of the striatum in target pursuit.
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Rodriguez-Sabate C, Morales I, Lorenzo JN, Rodriguez M. The organization of the basal ganglia functional connectivity network is non-linear in Parkinson's disease. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 22:101708. [PMID: 30763902 PMCID: PMC6373210 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) have been linked to changes in the excitatory/inhibitory interactions of centers involved in the cortical-subcortical closed-loop circuits which connect basal ganglia (BG) and the brain cortex. This approach may explain some motor symptoms of PD but not others, which has driven the study of BG from new perspectives. Besides their cortical-subcortical linear circuits, BG have a number of subcortical circuits which directly or indirectly connect each BG with all the others. This suggests that BG may work as a complex network whose output is the result of massive functional interactions between all of their nuclei (decentralized network; DCN), more than the result of the linear excitatory/inhibitory interactions of the cortical-subcortical closed-loops. The aim of this work was to study BG as a DCN, and to test whether the DCN behavior of BG changes in PD. BG activity was recorded with MRI methods and their complex interactions were studied with a procedure based on multiple correspondence analysis, a data-driven multifactorial method which can work with non-linear multiple interactions. The functional connectivity of twenty parkinsonian patients and eighteen age-matched controls were studied during resting and when they were performing sequential hand movements. Seven functional configurations were identified in the control subjects during resting, and some of these interactions changed with motor activity. Five of the seven interactions found in control subjects changed in Parkinson's disease. The BG response to the motor task was also different in PD patients and controls. These data show the basal ganglia as a decentralized network where each region can perform multiple functions and each function is performed by multiple regions. This framework of BG interactions may provide new explanations concerning motor symptoms of PD which are not explained by current BG models. The classical basal ganglia model is based on linear excitatory/inhibitory interactions. The classical model only explains part of the motor disorders of Parkinson's disease. fcMRI images were studied with Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). MCA showed multiple non-linear interactions between basal ganglia. Parkinson's disease induced marked changes of non-linear basal ganglia interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Rodriguez-Sabate
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Getafe University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ingrid Morales
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Jesus N Lorenzo
- Department of Neurology, La Candelaria University Hospital, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Manuel Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Spain.
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Balbinot G, Schuch CP. Compensatory Relearning Following Stroke: Cellular and Plasticity Mechanisms in Rodents. Front Neurosci 2019; 12:1023. [PMID: 30766468 PMCID: PMC6365459 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.01023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
von Monakow’s theory of diaschisis states the functional ‘standstill’ of intact brain regions that are remote from a damaged area, often implied in recovery of function. Accordingly, neural plasticity and activity patterns related to recovery are also occurring at the same regions. Recovery relies on plasticity in the periinfarct and homotopic contralesional regions and involves relearning to perform movements. Seeking evidence for a relearning mechanism following stroke, we found that rodents display many features that resemble classical learning and memory mechanisms. Compensatory relearning is likely to be accompanied by gradual shaping of these regions and pathways, with participating neurons progressively adapting cortico-striato-thalamic activity and synaptic strengths at different cortico-thalamic loops – adapting function relayed by the striatum. Motor cortex functional maps are progressively reinforced and shaped by these loops as the striatum searches for different functional actions. Several cortical and striatal cellular mechanisms that influence motor learning may also influence post-stroke compensatory relearning. Future research should focus on how different neuromodulatory systems could act before, during or after rehabilitation to improve stroke recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Balbinot
- Brain Institute, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Pedrini Schuch
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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35
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Yee AG, Forbes B, Cheung PY, Martini A, Burrell MH, Freestone PS, Lipski J. Action potential and calcium dependence of tonic somatodendritic dopamine release in the Substantia Nigra pars compacta. J Neurochem 2018; 148:462-479. [PMID: 30203851 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite the importance of somatodendritic dopamine (DA) release in the Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNc), its mechanism remains poorly understood. Using a novel approach combining fast-scan controlled-adsorption voltammetry (FSCAV) and single-unit electrophysiology, we have investigated the mechanism of somatodendritic release by directly correlating basal (non-stimulated) extracellular DA concentration ([DA]out ), with pharmacologically-induced changes of firing of nigral dopaminergic neurons in rat brain slices. FSCAV measurements indicated that basal [DA]out in the SNc was 40.7 ± 2.0 nM (at 34 ± 0.5°C), which was enhanced by amphetamine, cocaine, and L-DOPA, and reduced by VMAT2 inhibitor, Ro4-1284. Complete inhibition of firing by TTX decreased basal [DA]out , but this reduction was smaller than the effect of D2 receptor agonist, quinpirole. Despite similar effects on neuronal firing, the larger decrease in [DA]out evoked by quinpirole was attributed to cell membrane hyperpolarization and greater reduction in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+ ]in ). Decreasing extracellular Ca2+ also reduced basal [DA]out , despite increasing firing frequency. Furthermore, inhibiting L-type Ca2+ channels decreased basal [DA]out , although specific Cav 1.3 channel inhibition did not affect firing rate. Inhibition of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase (SERCA) also decreased [DA]out , demonstrating the importance of intracellular Ca2+ stores for somatodendritic release. Finally, in vivo FSCAV measurements showed that basal [DA]out in the SNc was 79.8 ± 10.9 nM in urethane-anesthetized rats, which was enhanced by amphetamine. Overall, our findings indicate that although tonic somatodendritic DA release is largely independent of action potentials, basal [DA]out is strongly regulated by voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx and release of intracellular Ca2+ . OPEN SCIENCE BADGES: This article has received a badge for *Open Materials* because it provided all relevant information to reproduce the study in the manuscript. The complete Open Science Disclosure form for this article can be found at the end of the article. More information about the Open Practices badges can be found at https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Yee
- Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Blaze Forbes
- Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Pang-Ying Cheung
- Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Mark H Burrell
- Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter S Freestone
- Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Janusz Lipski
- Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Bey AL, Wang X, Yan H, Kim N, Passman RL, Yang Y, Cao X, Towers AJ, Hulbert SW, Duffney LJ, Gaidis E, Rodriguiz RM, Wetsel WC, Yin HH, Jiang YH. Brain region-specific disruption of Shank3 in mice reveals a dissociation for cortical and striatal circuits in autism-related behaviors. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:94. [PMID: 29700290 PMCID: PMC5919902 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported a new line of Shank3 mutant mice which led to a complete loss of Shank3 by deleting exons 4-22 (Δe4-22) globally. Δe4-22 mice display robust ASD-like behaviors including impaired social interaction and communication, increased stereotypical behavior and excessive grooming, and a profound deficit in instrumental learning. However, the anatomical and neural circuitry underlying these behaviors are unknown. We generated mice with Shank3 selectively deleted in forebrain, striatum, and striatal D1 and D2 cells. These mice were used to interrogate the circuit/brain-region and cell-type specific role of Shank3 in the expression of autism-related behaviors. Whole-cell patch recording and biochemical analyses were used to study the synaptic function and molecular changes in specific brain regions. We found perseverative exploratory behaviors in mice with deletion of Shank3 in striatal inhibitory neurons. Conversely, self-grooming induced lesions were observed in mice with deletion of Shank3 in excitatory neurons of forebrain. However, social, communicative, and instrumental learning behaviors were largely unaffected in these mice, unlike what is seen in global Δe4-22 mice. We discovered unique patterns of change for the biochemical and electrophysiological findings in respective brain regions that reflect the complex nature of transcriptional regulation of Shank3. Reductions in Homer1b/c and membrane hyper-excitability were observed in striatal loss of Shank3. By comparison, Shank3 deletion in hippocampal neurons resulted in increased NMDAR-currents and GluN2B-containing NMDARs. These results together suggest that Shank3 may differentially regulate neural circuits that control behavior. Our study supports a dissociation of Shank3 functions in cortical and striatal neurons in ASD-related behaviors, and it illustrates the complexity of neural circuit mechanisms underlying these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Bey
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Haidun Yan
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Namsoo Kim
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Rebecca L. Passman
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dBiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Yilin Yang
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Xinyu Cao
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Aaron J. Towers
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dGenomics and Genetics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Samuel W. Hulbert
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Lara J. Duffney
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Erin Gaidis
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Ramona M. Rodriguiz
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - William C. Wetsel
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dCell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDuke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Henry H. Yin
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDuke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Yong-hui Jiang
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dGenomics and Genetics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDuke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
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O’Hare J, Calakos N, Yin HH. Recent Insights into Corticostriatal Circuit Mechanisms underlying Habits: Invited review for Current Opinions in Behavioral Sciences. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018; 20:40-46. [PMID: 29450220 PMCID: PMC5808988 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Habits have been studied for decades, but it was not until recent years that experiments began to elucidate the underlying cellular and circuit mechanisms. The latest experiments have been enabled by advances in cell-type specific monitoring and manipulation of activity in large neuronal populations. Here we will review recent efforts to understand the neural substrates underlying habit formation, focusing on rodent studies on corticostriatal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole Calakos
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University
- Department of Neurology, Duke University
| | - Henry H. Yin
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University
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Helmich RC. The cerebral basis of Parkinsonian tremor: A network perspective. Mov Disord 2017; 33:219-231. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.27224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rick C. Helmich
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging; Radboud University Nijmegen; Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology and Parkinson Centre Nijmegen; Nijmegen The Netherlands
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Buxton D, Bracci E, Overton PG, Gurney K. Striatal Neuropeptides Enhance Selection and Rejection of Sequential Actions. Front Comput Neurosci 2017; 11:62. [PMID: 28798678 PMCID: PMC5529366 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2017.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The striatum is the primary input nucleus for the basal ganglia, and receives glutamatergic afferents from the cortex. Under the hypothesis that basal ganglia perform action selection, these cortical afferents encode potential “action requests.” Previous studies have suggested the striatum may utilize a mutually inhibitory network of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) to filter these requests so that only those of high salience are selected. However, the mechanisms enabling the striatum to perform clean, rapid switching between distinct actions that form part of a learned action sequence are still poorly understood. Substance P (SP) and enkephalin are neuropeptides co-released with GABA in MSNs preferentially expressing D1 or D2 dopamine receptors respectively. SP has a facilitatory effect on subsequent glutamatergic inputs to target MSNs, while enkephalin has an inhibitory effect. Blocking the action of SP in the striatum is also known to affect behavioral transitions. We constructed phenomenological models of the effects of SP and enkephalin, and integrated these into a hybrid model of basal ganglia comprising a spiking striatal microcircuit and rate–coded populations representing other major structures. We demonstrated that diffuse neuropeptide connectivity enhanced the selection of unordered action requests, and that for true action sequences, where action semantics define a fixed structure, a patterning of the SP connectivity reflecting this ordering enhanced selection of actions presented in the correct sequential order and suppressed incorrect ordering. We also showed that selective pruning of SP connections allowed context–sensitive inhibition of specific undesirable requests that otherwise interfered with selection of an action group. Our model suggests that the interaction of SP and enkephalin enhances the contrast between selection and rejection of action requests, and that patterned SP connectivity in the striatum allows the “chunking” of actions and improves selection of sequences. Efficient execution of action sequences may therefore result from a combination of ordered cortical inputs and patterned neuropeptide connectivity within striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Buxton
- Adaptive Behaviour Research Group, Department of Psychology, The University of SheffieldSheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico Bracci
- Adaptive Behaviour Research Group, Department of Psychology, The University of SheffieldSheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Paul G Overton
- Adaptive Behaviour Research Group, Department of Psychology, The University of SheffieldSheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Gurney
- Adaptive Behaviour Research Group, Department of Psychology, The University of SheffieldSheffield, United Kingdom
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Albin RL, Leventhal DK. The missing, the short, and the long: Levodopa responses and dopamine actions. Ann Neurol 2017; 82:4-19. [PMID: 28543679 DOI: 10.1002/ana.24961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roger L Albin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan; Neurology Service & Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System; and, University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Daniel K Leventhal
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan; and Neurology Service & Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
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Peterson DA, Sejnowski TJ. A Dynamic Circuit Hypothesis for the Pathogenesis of Blepharospasm. Front Comput Neurosci 2017; 11:11. [PMID: 28326032 PMCID: PMC5340098 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2017.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Blepharospasm (sometimes called “benign essential blepharospasm,” BEB) is one of the most common focal dystonias. It involves involuntary eyelid spasms, eye closure, and increased blinking. Despite the success of botulinum toxin injections and, in some cases, pharmacologic or surgical interventions, BEB treatments are not completely efficacious and only symptomatic. We could develop principled strategies for preventing and reversing the disease if we knew the pathogenesis of primary BEB. The objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework and dynamic circuit hypothesis for the pathogenesis of BEB. The framework extends our overarching theory for the multifactorial pathogenesis of focal dystonias (Peterson et al., 2010) to incorporate a two-hit rodent model specifically of BEB (Schicatano et al., 1997). We incorporate in the framework three features critical to cranial motor control: (1) the joint influence of motor cortical regions and direct descending projections from one of the basal ganglia output nuclei, the substantia nigra pars reticulata, on brainstem motor nuclei, (2) nested loops composed of the trigeminal blink reflex arc and the long sensorimotor loop from trigeminal nucleus through thalamus to somatosensory cortex back through basal ganglia to the same brainstem nuclei modulating the reflex arc, and (3) abnormalities in the basal ganglia dopamine system that provide a sensorimotor learning substrate which, when combined with patterns of increased blinking, leads to abnormal sensorimotor mappings manifest as BEB. The framework explains experimental data on the trigeminal reflex blink excitability (TRBE) from Schicatano et al. and makes predictions that can be tested in new experimental animal models based on emerging genetics in dystonia, including the recently characterized striatal-specific D1R dopamine transduction alterations caused by the GNAL mutation. More broadly, the model will provide a guide for future efforts to mechanistically link multiple factors in the pathogenesis of BEB and facilitate simulations of how exogenous manipulations of the pathogenic factors could ultimately be used to prevent and reverse the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Peterson
- Computational Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological StudiesSan Diego, CA, USA; Institute for Neural Computation, University of California, San DiegoSan Diego, CA, USA
| | - Terrence J Sejnowski
- Computational Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological StudiesSan Diego, CA, USA; Institute for Neural Computation, University of California, San DiegoSan Diego, CA, USA
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De Giorgio A. The roles of motor activity and environmental enrichment in intellectual disability. Somatosens Mot Res 2017; 34:34-43. [PMID: 28140743 DOI: 10.1080/08990220.2016.1278204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In people with intellectual disabilities, an enriched environment can stimulate the acquisition of motor skills and could partially repair neuronal impairment thanks to exploration and motor activity. A deficit in environmental and motor stimulation leads to low scores in intelligence tests and can cause serious motor skill problems. Although studies in humans do not give much evidence for explaining basic mechanisms of intellectual disability and for highlighting improvements due to enriched environmental stimulation, animal models have been valuable in the investigation of these conditions. Here, we discuss the role of environmental enrichment in four intellectual disabilities: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Down, Rett, and Fragile X syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea De Giorgio
- a Department of Psychology , eCampus University , Novedrate , Italy.,b Department of Psychology , Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Milano , Italy
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Johnson KA, Lovinger DM. Presynaptic G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Gatekeepers of Addiction? Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:264. [PMID: 27891077 PMCID: PMC5104741 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug abuse and addiction cause widespread social and public health problems, and the neurobiology underlying drug actions and drug use and abuse is an area of intensive research. Drugs of abuse alter synaptic transmission, and these actions contribute to acute intoxication as well as the chronic effects of abused substances. Transmission at most mammalian synapses involves neurotransmitter activation of two receptor subtypes, ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast synaptic responses and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that have slower neuromodulatory actions. The GPCRs represent a large proportion of neurotransmitter receptors involved in almost all facets of nervous system function. In addition, these receptors are targets for many pharmacotherapeutic agents. Drugs of abuse directly or indirectly affect neuromodulation mediated by GPCRs, with important consequences for intoxication, drug taking and responses to prolonged drug exposure, withdrawal and addiction. Among the GPCRs are several subtypes involved in presynaptic inhibition, most of which are coupled to the Gi/o class of G protein. There is increasing evidence that these presynaptic Gi/o-coupled GPCRs have important roles in the actions of drugs of abuse, as well as behaviors related to these drugs. This topic will be reviewed, with particular emphasis on receptors for three neurotransmitters, Dopamine (DA; D1- and D2-like receptors), Endocannabinoids (eCBs; CB1 receptors) and glutamate (group II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors). The focus is on recent evidence from laboratory animal models (and some evidence in humans) implicating these receptors in the acute and chronic effects of numerous abused drugs, as well as in the control of drug seeking and taking. The ability of drugs targeting these receptors to modify drug seeking behavior has raised the possibility of using compounds targeting these receptors for addiction pharmacotherapy. This topic is also discussed, with emphasis on development of mGlu2 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari A. Johnson
- Section on Synaptic Pharmacology, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of HealthBethesda, MD, USA
| | - David M. Lovinger
- Section on Synaptic Pharmacology, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of HealthBethesda, MD, USA
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