1
|
Song MR, Lee SW. Rethinking dopamine-guided action sequence learning. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:3447-3465. [PMID: 38798086 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16426] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
As opposed to those requiring a single action for reward acquisition, tasks necessitating action sequences demand that animals learn action elements and their sequential order and sustain the behaviour until the sequence is completed. With repeated learning, animals not only exhibit precise execution of these sequences but also demonstrate enhanced smoothness and efficiency. Previous research has demonstrated that midbrain dopamine and its major projection target, the striatum, play crucial roles in these processes. Recent studies have shown that dopamine from the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) serve distinct functions in action sequence learning. The distinct contributions of dopamine also depend on the striatal subregions, namely the ventral, dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum. Here, we have reviewed recent findings on the role of striatal dopamine in action sequence learning, with a focus on recent rodent studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minryung R Song
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sang Wan Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea
- Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea
- KI for Health Science and Technology, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea
- Center for Neuroscience-inspired AI, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Phillips CD, Hodge AT, Myers CC, Leventhal DK, Burgess CR. Striatal Dopamine Contributions to Skilled Motor Learning. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0240242024. [PMID: 38806248 PMCID: PMC11211718 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0240-24.2024] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Coordinated multijoint limb and digit movements-"manual dexterity"-underlie both specialized skills (e.g., playing the piano) and more mundane tasks (e.g., tying shoelaces). Impairments in dexterous skill cause significant disability, as occurs with motor cortical injury, Parkinson's disease, and a range of other pathologies. Clinical observations, as well as basic investigations, suggest that corticostriatal circuits play a critical role in learning and performing dexterous skills. Furthermore, dopaminergic signaling in these regions is implicated in synaptic plasticity and motor learning. Nonetheless, the role of striatal dopamine signaling in skilled motor learning remains poorly understood. Here, we use fiber photometry paired with a genetically encoded dopamine sensor to investigate striatal dopamine release in both male and female mice as they learn and perform a skilled reaching task. Dopamine rapidly increases during a skilled reach and peaks near pellet consumption. In the dorsolateral striatum, dopamine dynamics are faster than in the dorsomedial and ventral striatum. Across training, as reaching performance improves, dopamine signaling shifts from pellet consumption to cues that predict pellet availability, particularly in medial and ventral areas of the striatum. Furthermore, performance prediction errors are present across the striatum, with reduced dopamine release after an unsuccessful reach. These findings show that dopamine dynamics during skilled motor behaviors change with learning and are differentially regulated across striatal subregions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris D Phillips
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
| | - Alexander T Hodge
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Courtney C Myers
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Daniel K Leventhal
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Parkinson's Disease Foundation Research Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Department of Neurology, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Christian R Burgess
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Berezhnoi D, Chehade HD, Chu HY. Open-source platform for kinematic analysis of mouse forelimb movement. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103140. [PMID: 38905103 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103140] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Here we present an open-source behavioral platform and software solution for studying fine motor skills in mice performing reach-to-grasp task. We describe steps for assembling the box, training mice to perform the task, and processing the video with the custom software pipeline to analyze forepaw kinematics. The behavioral platform uses readily available and 3D-printed components and was designed to be affordable and universally reproducible. We provide the schematics, 3D models, code, and assembly instructions in the open GitHub repository.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniil Berezhnoi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20852, USA
| | - Hiba Douja Chehade
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20852, USA
| | - Hong-Yuan Chu
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20852, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Schuster BA, Sowden S, Rybicki AJ, Fraser DS, Press C, Hickman L, Holland P, Cook JL. Disruption of dopamine D2/D3 system function impairs the human ability to understand the mental states of other people. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002652. [PMID: 38870319 PMCID: PMC11175582 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Difficulties in reasoning about others' mental states (i.e., mentalising/Theory of Mind) are highly prevalent among disorders featuring dopamine dysfunctions (e.g., Parkinson's disease) and significantly affect individuals' quality of life. However, due to multiple confounding factors inherent to existing patient studies, currently little is known about whether these sociocognitive symptoms originate from aberrant dopamine signalling or from psychosocial changes unrelated to dopamine. The present study, therefore, investigated the role of dopamine in modulating mentalising in a sample of healthy volunteers. We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure to test the effect of the D2/D3 antagonist haloperidol on mental state attribution, using an adaptation of the Heider and Simmel (1944) animations task. On 2 separate days, once after receiving 2.5 mg haloperidol and once after receiving placebo, 33 healthy adult participants viewed and labelled short videos of 2 triangles depicting mental state (involving mentalistic interaction wherein 1 triangle intends to cause or act upon a particular mental state in the other, e.g., surprising) and non-mental state (involving reciprocal interaction without the intention to cause/act upon the other triangle's mental state, e.g., following) interactions. Using Bayesian mixed effects models, we observed that haloperidol decreased accuracy in labelling both mental and non-mental state animations. Our secondary analyses suggest that dopamine modulates inference from mental and non-mental state animations via independent mechanisms, pointing towards 2 putative pathways underlying the dopaminergic modulation of mental state attribution: action representation and a shared mechanism supporting mentalising and emotion recognition. We conclude that dopaminergic pathways impact Theory of Mind, at least indirectly. Our results have implications for the neurochemical basis of sociocognitive difficulties in patients with dopamine dysfunctions and generate new hypotheses about the specific dopamine-mediated mechanisms underlying social cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca A Schuster
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sophie Sowden
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia J Rybicki
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Dagmar S Fraser
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Press
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lydia Hickman
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Holland
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer L Cook
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Stasiłowicz-Krzemień A, Nogalska W, Maszewska Z, Maleszka M, Dobroń M, Szary A, Kępa A, Żarowski M, Hojan K, Lukowicz M, Cielecka-Piontek J. The Use of Compounds Derived from Cannabis sativa in the Treatment of Epilepsy, Painful Conditions, and Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5749. [PMID: 38891938 PMCID: PMC11171823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115749] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders present a wide range of symptoms and challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Cannabis sativa, with its diverse chemical composition, offers potential therapeutic benefits due to its anticonvulsive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Beyond cannabinoids, cannabis contains terpenes and polyphenols, which synergistically enhance its pharmacological effects. Various administration routes, including vaporization, oral ingestion, sublingual, and rectal, provide flexibility in treatment delivery. This review shows the therapeutic efficacy of cannabis in managing neurological disorders such as epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, and painful pathologies. Drawing from surveys, patient studies, and clinical trials, it highlights the potential of cannabis in alleviating symptoms, slowing disease progression, and improving overall quality of life for patients. Understanding the diverse therapeutic mechanisms of cannabis can open up possibilities for using this plant for individual patient needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stasiłowicz-Krzemień
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
| | - Wiktoria Nogalska
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
| | - Zofia Maszewska
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
| | - Mateusz Maleszka
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
| | - Maria Dobroń
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
| | - Agnieszka Szary
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
| | - Aleksandra Kępa
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
| | - Marcin Żarowski
- Department of Developmental Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewski 49, 60-355 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Hojan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Swięcickiego 6, 61-847 Poznan, Poland;
- Department of Rehabilitation, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Lukowicz
- Department of Rehabilitation, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Konarskiego 13, 05-400 Otwock, Poland;
| | - Judyta Cielecka-Piontek
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.-K.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lemke SM, Celotto M, Maffulli R, Ganguly K, Panzeri S. Information flow between motor cortex and striatum reverses during skill learning. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1831-1843.e7. [PMID: 38604168 PMCID: PMC11078609 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.023] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The coordination of neural activity across brain areas during a specific behavior is often interpreted as neural communication involved in controlling the behavior. However, whether information relevant to the behavior is actually transferred between areas is often untested. Here, we used information-theoretic tools to quantify how motor cortex and striatum encode and exchange behaviorally relevant information about specific reach-to-grasp movement features during skill learning in rats. We found a temporal shift in the encoding of behaviorally relevant information during skill learning, as well as a reversal in the primary direction of behaviorally relevant information flow, from cortex-to-striatum during naive movements to striatum-to-cortex during skilled movements. Standard analytical methods that quantify the evolution of overall neural activity during learning-such as changes in neural signal amplitude or the overall exchange of information between areas-failed to capture these behaviorally relevant information dynamics. Using these standard methods, we instead found a consistent coactivation of overall neural signals during movement production and a bidirectional increase in overall information propagation between areas during learning. Our results show that skill learning is achieved through a transformation in how behaviorally relevant information is routed across cortical and subcortical brain areas and that isolating the components of neural activity relevant to and informative about behavior is critical to uncover directional interactions within a coactive and coordinated network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan M Lemke
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy; Neurology Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Marco Celotto
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Institute of Neural Information Processing, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Falkenried 94, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Roberto Maffulli
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Karunesh Ganguly
- Neurology Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Stefano Panzeri
- Institute of Neural Information Processing, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Falkenried 94, 20251 Hamburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Berezhnoi D, Chehade HD, Chu HY. Open-Source Platform for Kinematic Analysis of Mouse Forelimb Movement. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.31.578239. [PMID: 38659803 PMCID: PMC11042209 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
We present an open-source behavioral platform and software solution for studying fine motor skills in mice performing reach-to-grasp task. The behavioral platform uses readily available and 3D-printed components and was designed to be affordable and universally reproducible. The protocol describes how to assemble the box, train mice to perform the task and process the video with the custom software pipeline to analyze forepaw kinematics. All the schematics, 3D models, code and assembly instructions are provided in the open GitHub repository.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniil Berezhnoi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, United States
- Current affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, 20007
- Technical contact
| | - Hiba Douja Chehade
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, United States
- Current affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, 20007
- Technical contact
| | - Hong-Yuan Chu
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, United States
- Current affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, 20007
- Technical contact
- Lead contact
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Caragea VM, Méndez-Couz M, Manahan-Vaughan D. Dopamine receptors of the rodent fastigial nucleus support skilled reaching for goal-directed action. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:609-637. [PMID: 37615757 PMCID: PMC10978667 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02685-0] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The dopaminergic (DA) system regulates both motor function, and learning and memory. The cerebellum supports motor control and the acquisition of procedural memories, including goal-directed behavior, and is subjected to DA control. Its fastigial nucleus (FN) controls and interprets body motion through space. The expression of dopamine receptors has been reported in the deep cerebellar nuclei of mice. However, the presence of dopamine D1-like (D1R) and D2-like (D2R) receptors in the rat FN has not yet been verified. In this study, we first confirmed that DA receptors are expressed in the FN of adult rats and then targeted these receptors to explore to what extent the FN modulates goal-directed behavior. Immunohistochemical assessment revealed expression of both D1R and D2R receptors in the FN, whereby the medial lateral FN exhibited higher receptor expression compared to the other FN subfields. Bilateral treatment of the FN with a D1R antagonist, prior to a goal-directed pellet-reaching task, significantly impaired task acquisition and decreased task engagement. D2R antagonism only reduced late performance post-acquisition. Once task acquisition had occurred, D1R antagonism had no effect on successful reaching, although it significantly decreased reaching speed, task engagement, and promoted errors. Motor coordination and ambulation were, however, unaffected as neither D1R nor D2R antagonism altered rotarod latencies or distance and velocity in an open field. Taken together, these results not only reveal a novel role for the FN in goal-directed skilled reaching, but also show that D1R expressed in FN regulate this process by modulating motivation for action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Violeta-Maria Caragea
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, MA 4/150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marta Méndez-Couz
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, MA 4/150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Denise Manahan-Vaughan
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, MA 4/150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Phillips CD, Myers CC, Leventhal DK, Burgess CR. Striatal dopamine contributions to skilled motor learning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.06.579240. [PMID: 38370850 PMCID: PMC10871330 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.06.579240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Coordinated multi-joint limb and digit movements - "manual dexterity" - underlie both specialized skills (e.g., playing the piano) and more mundane tasks (e.g., tying shoelaces). Impairments in dexterous skill cause significant disability, as occurs with motor cortical injury, Parkinson's Disease, and a range of other pathologies. Clinical observations, as well as basic investigations, suggest that cortico-striatal circuits play a critical role in learning and performing dexterous skills. Furthermore, dopaminergic signaling in these regions is implicated in synaptic plasticity and motor learning. Nonetheless, the role of striatal dopamine signaling in skilled motor learning remains poorly understood. Here, we use fiber photometry paired with a genetically encoded dopamine sensor to investigate striatal dopamine release as mice learn and perform a skilled reaching task. Dopamine rapidly increases during a skilled reach and peaks near pellet consumption. In dorsolateral striatum, dopamine dynamics are faster than in dorsomedial and ventral striatum. Across training, as reaching performance improves, dopamine signaling shifts from pellet consumption to cues that predict pellet availability, particularly in medial and ventral areas of striatum. Furthermore, performance prediction errors are present across the striatum, with reduced dopamine release after an unsuccessful reach. These findings show that dopamine dynamics during skilled motor behaviors change with learning and are differentially regulated across striatal subregions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris D. Phillips
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA, 75080
| | - Courtney C. Myers
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
| | - Daniel K. Leventhal
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Parkinson Disease Foundation Research Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Department of Neurology, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
| | - Christian R. Burgess
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48109
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Braine A, Georges F. Emotion in action: When emotions meet motor circuits. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105475. [PMID: 37996047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The brain is a remarkably complex organ responsible for a wide range of functions, including the modulation of emotional states and movement. Neuronal circuits are believed to play a crucial role in integrating sensory, cognitive, and emotional information to ultimately guide motor behavior. Over the years, numerous studies employing diverse techniques such as electrophysiology, imaging, and optogenetics have revealed a complex network of neural circuits involved in the regulation of emotional or motor processes. Emotions can exert a substantial influence on motor performance, encompassing both everyday activities and pathological conditions. The aim of this review is to explore how emotional states can shape movements by connecting the neural circuits for emotional processing to motor neural circuits. We first provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of different emotional states on motor control in humans and rodents. In line with behavioral studies, we set out to identify emotion-related structures capable of modulating motor output, behaviorally and anatomically. Neuronal circuits involved in emotional processing are extensively connected to the motor system. These circuits can drive emotional behavior, essential for survival, but can also continuously shape ongoing movement. In summary, the investigation of the intricate relationship between emotion and movement offers valuable insights into human behavior, including opportunities to enhance performance, and holds promise for improving mental and physical health. This review integrates findings from multiple scientific approaches, including anatomical tracing, circuit-based dissection, and behavioral studies, conducted in both animal and human subjects. By incorporating these different methodologies, we aim to present a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the emotional modulation of movement in both physiological and pathological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anaelle Braine
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Garau C, Hayes J, Chiacchierini G, McCutcheon JE, Apergis-Schoute J. Involvement of A13 dopaminergic neurons in prehensile movements but not reward in the rat. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4786-4797.e4. [PMID: 37816347 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-containing neurons of the dopamine (DA) cell group A13 are well positioned to impact known DA-related functions as their descending projections innervate target regions that regulate vigilance, sensory integration, and motor execution. Despite this connectivity, little is known regarding the functionality of A13-DA circuits. Using TH-specific loss-of-function methodology and techniques to monitor population activity in transgenic rats in vivo, we investigated the contribution of A13-DA neurons in reward and movement-related actions. Our work demonstrates a role for A13-DA neurons in grasping and handling of objects but not reward. A13-DA neurons responded strongly when animals grab and manipulate food items, whereas their inactivation or degeneration prevented animals from successfully doing so-a deficit partially attributed to a reduction in grip strength. By contrast, there was no relation between A13-DA activity and food-seeking behavior when animals were tested on a reward-based task that did not include a reaching/grasping response. Motivation for food was unaffected, as goal-directed behavior for food items was in general intact following A13 neuronal inactivation/degeneration. An anatomical investigation confirmed that A13-DA neurons project to the superior colliculus (SC) and also demonstrated a novel A13-DA projection to the reticular formation (RF). These results establish a functional role for A13-DA neurons in prehensile actions that are uncoupled from the motivational factors that contribute to the initiation of forelimb movements and help position A13-DA circuits into the functional framework regarding centrally located DA populations and their ability to coordinate movement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celia Garau
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK.
| | - Jessica Hayes
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK
| | - Giulia Chiacchierini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, La Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - James E McCutcheon
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK; Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Huginbakken 32, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - John Apergis-Schoute
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK; Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wärnberg E, Kumar A. Feasibility of dopamine as a vector-valued feedback signal in the basal ganglia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221994120. [PMID: 37527344 PMCID: PMC10410740 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221994120] [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: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that midbrain dopaminergic neurons support reinforcement learning (RL) in the basal ganglia by transmitting a reward prediction error (RPE) to the striatum. In particular, different computational models and experiments have shown that a striatum-wide RPE signal can support RL over a small discrete set of actions (e.g., no/no-go, choose left/right). However, there is accumulating evidence that the basal ganglia functions not as a selector between predefined actions but rather as a dynamical system with graded, continuous outputs. To reconcile this view with RL, there is a need to explain how dopamine could support learning of continuous outputs, rather than discrete action values. Inspired by the recent observations that besides RPE, the firing rates of midbrain dopaminergic neurons correlate with motor and cognitive variables, we propose a model in which dopamine signal in the striatum carries a vector-valued error feedback signal (a loss gradient) instead of a homogeneous scalar error (a loss). We implement a local, "three-factor" corticostriatal plasticity rule involving the presynaptic firing rate, a postsynaptic factor, and the unique dopamine concentration perceived by each striatal neuron. With this learning rule, we show that such a vector-valued feedback signal results in an increased capacity to learn a multidimensional series of real-valued outputs. Crucially, we demonstrate that this plasticity rule does not require precise nigrostriatal synapses but remains compatible with experimental observations of random placement of varicosities and diffuse volume transmission of dopamine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emil Wärnberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Computational Science and Technology, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arvind Kumar
- Division of Computational Science and Technology, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fraser KM, Pribut HJ, Janak PH, Keiflin R. From Prediction to Action: Dissociable Roles of Ventral Tegmental Area and Substantia Nigra Dopamine Neurons in Instrumental Reinforcement. J Neurosci 2023; 43:3895-3908. [PMID: 37185097 PMCID: PMC10217998 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0028-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Reward seeking requires the coordination of motor programs to achieve goals. Midbrain dopamine neurons are critical for reinforcement, and their activation is sufficient for learning about cues, actions, and outcomes. Here we examine in detail the mechanisms underlying the ability of ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SNc) dopamine neurons to support instrumental learning. By exploiting numerous behavioral tasks in combination with time-limited optogenetic manipulations in male and female rats, we reveal that VTA and SNc dopamine neurons generate reinforcement through separable psychological processes. VTA dopamine neurons imbue actions and their associated cues with motivational value that allows flexible and persistent pursuit, whereas SNc dopamine neurons support time-limited, precise, action-specific learning that is nonscalable and inflexible. This architecture is reminiscent of actor-critic reinforcement learning models with VTA and SNc instructing the critic and actor, respectively. Our findings indicate that heterogeneous dopamine systems support unique forms of instrumental learning that ultimately result in disparate reward-seeking strategies.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dopamine neurons in the midbrain are essential for learning, motivation, and movement. Here we describe in detail the ability of VTA and SNc dopamine neurons to generate instrumental reinforcement, a process where an agent learns about actions they can emit to earn reward. While rats will avidly work and learn to respond for activation of VTA and SNc dopamine neurons, we find that only VTA dopamine neurons imbue actions and their associated cues with motivational value that spur continued pursuit of reward. Our data support a hypothesis that VTA and SNc dopamine neurons engage distinct psychological processes that have consequences for our understanding of these neurons in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kurt M Fraser
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Heather J Pribut
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Patricia H Janak
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Ronald Keiflin
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, 93106
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Xie Y, Huang L, Corona A, Pagliaro AH, Shea SD. A dopaminergic reward prediction error signal shapes maternal behavior in mice. Neuron 2023; 111:557-570.e7. [PMID: 36543170 PMCID: PMC9957971 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
How social contact is perceived as rewarding and subsequently modifies interactions is unclear. Dopamine (DA) from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) regulates sociality, but the ongoing, unstructured nature of free behavior makes it difficult to ascertain how. Here, we tracked the emergence of a repetitive stereotyped parental retrieval behavior and conclude that VTA DA neurons incrementally refine it by reinforcement learning (RL). Trial-by-trial performance was correlated with the history of DA neuron activity, but DA signals were inconsistent with VTA directly influencing the current trial. We manipulated the subject's expectation of imminent pup contact and show that DA signals convey reward prediction error, a fundamental component of RL. Finally, closed-loop optogenetic inactivation of DA neurons at the onset of pup contact dramatically slowed emergence of parental care. We conclude that this component of maternal behavior is shaped by an RL mechanism in which social contact itself is the primary reward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunyao Xie
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; State Key Laboratory of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Longwen Huang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; State Key Laboratory of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Alberto Corona
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Alexa H Pagliaro
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Stephen D Shea
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Behavioral encoding across timescales by region-specific dopamine dynamics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215230120. [PMID: 36749722 PMCID: PMC9963838 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215230120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The dorsal (DS) and ventral striatum (VS) receive dopaminergic projections that control motor functions and reward-related behavior. It remains poorly understood how dopamine release dynamics across different temporal scales in these regions are coupled to behavioral outcomes. Here, we employ the dopamine sensor dLight1.3b together with multiregion fiber photometry and machine learning-based analysis to decode dopamine dynamics across the striatum during self-paced exploratory behavior in mice. Our data show a striking coordination of rapidly fluctuating signal in the DS, carrying information across dopamine levels, with a slower signal in the VS, consisting mainly of slow-paced transients. Importantly, these release dynamics correlated with discrete behavioral motifs, such as turns, running, and grooming on a subsecond-to-minute time scale. Disruption of dopamine dynamics with cocaine caused randomization of action selection sequencing and disturbance of DS-VS coordination. The data suggest that distinct dopamine dynamics of DS and VS jointly encode behavioral sequences during unconstrained activity with DS modulating the stringing together of actions and VS the signal to initiate and sustain the selected action.
Collapse
|
16
|
Markowitz JE, Gillis WF, Jay M, Wood J, Harris RW, Cieszkowski R, Scott R, Brann D, Koveal D, Kula T, Weinreb C, Osman MAM, Pinto SR, Uchida N, Linderman SW, Sabatini BL, Datta SR. Spontaneous behaviour is structured by reinforcement without explicit reward. Nature 2023; 614:108-117. [PMID: 36653449 PMCID: PMC9892006 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05611-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous animal behaviour is built from action modules that are concatenated by the brain into sequences1,2. However, the neural mechanisms that guide the composition of naturalistic, self-motivated behaviour remain unknown. Here we show that dopamine systematically fluctuates in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) as mice spontaneously express sub-second behavioural modules, despite the absence of task structure, sensory cues or exogenous reward. Photometric recordings and calibrated closed-loop optogenetic manipulations during open field behaviour demonstrate that DLS dopamine fluctuations increase sequence variation over seconds, reinforce the use of associated behavioural modules over minutes, and modulate the vigour with which modules are expressed, without directly influencing movement initiation or moment-to-moment kinematics. Although the reinforcing effects of optogenetic DLS dopamine manipulations vary across behavioural modules and individual mice, these differences are well predicted by observed variation in the relationships between endogenous dopamine and module use. Consistent with the possibility that DLS dopamine fluctuations act as a teaching signal, mice build sequences during exploration as if to maximize dopamine. Together, these findings suggest a model in which the same circuits and computations that govern action choices in structured tasks have a key role in sculpting the content of unconstrained, high-dimensional, spontaneous behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey E Markowitz
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Maya Jay
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Wood
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryley W Harris
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Scott
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Brann
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dorothy Koveal
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tomasz Kula
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caleb Weinreb
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sandra Romero Pinto
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Naoshige Uchida
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Scott W Linderman
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bernardo L Sabatini
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
α-Synuclein Aggregates in the Nigro-Striatal Dopaminergic Pathway Impair Fine Movement: Partial Reversal by the Adenosine A 2A Receptor Antagonist. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021365. [PMID: 36674880 PMCID: PMC9866360 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021365] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized pathologically by abnormal aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) in the brain and clinically by fine movement deficits at the early stage, but the roles of α-Syn and associated neural circuits and neuromodulator bases in the development of fine movement deficits in PD are poorly understood, in part due to the lack of appropriate behavioral testing paradigms and PD models without motor confounding effects. Here, we coupled two unique behavioral paradigms with two PD models to reveal the following: (i) Focally injecting α-Syn fibrils into the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) and the transgenic expression of A53T-α-Syn in the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN, PITX3-IRES2-tTA/tetO-A53T mice) selectively impaired forelimb fine movements induced by the single-pellet reaching task. (ii) Injecting α-Syn fibers into the SN suppressed the coordination of cranial and forelimb fine movements induced by the sunflower seed opening test. (iii) Treatments with the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) antagonist KW6002 reversed the impairment of forelimb and cranial fine movements induced by α-Syn aggregates in the SN. These findings established a causal role of α-Syn in the SNc-DLS dopaminergic pathway in the development of forelimb and cranial fine movement deficits and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy to improve fine movements in PD by A2AR antagonists.
Collapse
|
18
|
Mesolimbic dopamine adapts the rate of learning from action. Nature 2023; 614:294-302. [PMID: 36653450 PMCID: PMC9908546 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05614-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Recent success in training artificial agents and robots derives from a combination of direct learning of behavioural policies and indirect learning through value functions1-3. Policy learning and value learning use distinct algorithms that optimize behavioural performance and reward prediction, respectively. In animals, behavioural learning and the role of mesolimbic dopamine signalling have been extensively evaluated with respect to reward prediction4; however, so far there has been little consideration of how direct policy learning might inform our understanding5. Here we used a comprehensive dataset of orofacial and body movements to understand how behavioural policies evolved as naive, head-restrained mice learned a trace conditioning paradigm. Individual differences in initial dopaminergic reward responses correlated with the emergence of learned behavioural policy, but not the emergence of putative value encoding for a predictive cue. Likewise, physiologically calibrated manipulations of mesolimbic dopamine produced several effects inconsistent with value learning but predicted by a neural-network-based model that used dopamine signals to set an adaptive rate, not an error signal, for behavioural policy learning. This work provides strong evidence that phasic dopamine activity can regulate direct learning of behavioural policies, expanding the explanatory power of reinforcement learning models for animal learning6.
Collapse
|
19
|
Kershberg L, Banerjee A, Kaeser PS. Protein composition of axonal dopamine release sites in the striatum. eLife 2022; 11:e83018. [PMID: 36579890 PMCID: PMC9937654 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine is an important modulator of cognition and movement. We recently found that evoked dopamine secretion is fast and relies on active zone-like release sites. Here, we used in vivo biotin identification (iBioID) proximity proteomics in mouse striatum to assess which proteins are present at these sites. Using three release site baits, we identified proteins that are enriched over the general dopamine axonal protein content, and they fell into several categories, including active zone, Ca2+ regulatory, and synaptic vesicle proteins. We also detected many proteins not previously associated with vesicular exocytosis. Knockout of the presynaptic organizer protein RIM strongly decreased the hit number obtained with iBioID, while Synaptotagmin-1 knockout did not. α-Synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson's disease, was enriched at release sites, and its enrichment was lost in both tested mutants. We conclude that RIM organizes scaffolded dopamine release sites and provide a proteomic assessment of the composition of these sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Kershberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kim Y, Jung D, Oya M, Kennedy M, Lence T, Alberico SL, Narayanan NS. Phase-adaptive brain stimulation of striatal D1 medium spiny neurons in dopamine-depleted mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21780. [PMID: 36526822 PMCID: PMC9758228 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26347-z] [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: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain rhythms are strongly linked with behavior, and abnormal rhythms can signify pathophysiology. For instance, the basal ganglia exhibit a wide range of low-frequency oscillations during movement, but pathological "beta" rhythms at ~ 20 Hz have been observed in Parkinson's disease (PD) and in PD animal models. All brain rhythms have a frequency, which describes how often they oscillate, and a phase, which describes the precise time that peaks and troughs of brain rhythms occur. Although frequency has been extensively studied, the relevance of phase is unknown, in part because it is difficult to causally manipulate the instantaneous phase of ongoing brain rhythms. Here, we developed a phase-adaptive, real-time, closed-loop algorithm to deliver optogenetic stimulation at a specific phase with millisecond latency. We combined this Phase-Adaptive Brain STimulation (PABST) approach with cell-type-specific optogenetic methods to stimulate basal ganglia networks in dopamine-depleted mice that model motor aspects of human PD. We focused on striatal medium spiny neurons expressing D1-type dopamine receptors because these neurons can facilitate movement. We report three main results. First, we found that our approach delivered PABST within system latencies of 13 ms. Second, we report that closed-loop stimulation powerfully influenced the spike-field coherence of local brain rhythms within the dorsal striatum. Finally, we found that both 4 Hz PABST and 20 Hz PABST improved movement speed, but we found differences between phase only with 4 Hz PABST. These data provide causal evidence that phase is relevant for brain stimulation, which will allow for more precise, targeted, and individualized brain stimulation. Our findings are applicable to a broad range of preclinical brain stimulation approaches and could also inform circuit-specific neuromodulation treatments for human brain disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youngcho Kim
- grid.214572.70000 0004 1936 8294Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, 169 Newton Road, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building-1336, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Dennis Jung
- grid.412750.50000 0004 1936 9166University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, NY 14642 USA
| | - Mayu Oya
- grid.214572.70000 0004 1936 8294Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, 169 Newton Road, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building-1336, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Morgan Kennedy
- grid.214572.70000 0004 1936 8294Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Tomas Lence
- grid.214572.70000 0004 1936 8294Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | | | - Nandakumar S. Narayanan
- grid.214572.70000 0004 1936 8294Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, 169 Newton Road, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building-1336, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gaidica M, Dantzer B. An implantable neurophysiology platform: Broadening research capabilities in free-living and non-traditional animals. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:940989. [PMID: 36213207 PMCID: PMC9537467 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.940989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal-borne sensors that can record and transmit data (“biologgers”) are becoming smaller and more capable at a rapid pace. Biologgers have provided enormous insight into the covert lives of many free-ranging animals by characterizing behavioral motifs, estimating energy expenditure, and tracking movement over vast distances, thereby serving both scientific and conservational endpoints. However, given that biologgers are usually attached externally, access to the brain and neurophysiological data has been largely unexplored outside of the laboratory, limiting our understanding of how the brain adapts to, interacts with, or addresses challenges of the natural world. For example, there are only a handful of studies in free-living animals examining the role of sleep, resulting in a wake-centric view of behavior despite the fact that sleep often encompasses a large portion of an animal’s day and plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis. The growing need to understand sleep from a mechanistic viewpoint and probe its function led us to design an implantable neurophysiology platform that can record brain activity and inertial data, while utilizing a wireless link to enable a suite of forward-looking capabilities. Here, we describe our design approach and demonstrate our device’s capability in a standard laboratory rat as well as a captive fox squirrel. We also discuss the methodological and ethical implications of deploying this new class of device “into the wild” to fill outstanding knowledge gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matt Gaidica
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Matt Gaidica,
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Grima LL, Panayi MC, Härmson O, Syed ECJ, Manohar SG, Husain M, Walton ME. Nucleus accumbens D1-receptors regulate and focus transitions to reward-seeking action. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1721-1731. [PMID: 35478011 PMCID: PMC9283443 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01312-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that dopamine transmission is integral in mediating the influence of reward expectations on reward-seeking actions. However, the precise causal role of dopamine transmission in moment-to-moment reward-motivated behavioral control remains contentious, particularly in contexts where it is necessary to refrain from responding to achieve a beneficial outcome. To examine this, we manipulated dopamine transmission pharmacologically as rats performed a Go/No-Go task that required them to either make or withhold action to gain either a small or large reward. D1R Stimulation potentiated cue-driven action initiation, including fast impulsive actions on No-Go trials. By contrast, D1R blockade primarily disrupted the successful completion of Go trial sequences. Surprisingly, while after global D1R blockade this was characterized by a general retardation of reward-seeking actions, nucleus accumbens core (NAcC) D1R blockade had no effect on the speed of action initiation or impulsive actions. Instead, fine-grained analyses showed that this manipulation decreased the precision of animals' goal-directed actions, even though they usually still followed the appropriate response sequence. Strikingly, such "unfocused" responding could also be observed off-drug, particularly when only a small reward was on offer. These findings suggest that the balance of activity at NAcC D1Rs plays a key role in enabling the rapid activation of a focused, reward-seeking state to enable animals to efficiently and accurately achieve their goal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Grima
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA.
| | - Marios C Panayi
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Oliver Härmson
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emilie C J Syed
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sanjay G Manohar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Masud Husain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark E Walton
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Hunter J, Bova A, Stevens A, Leventhal DK. Dopamine neuron stimulation induces context-dependent abnormal involuntary movements in healthy rats. iScience 2022; 25:103974. [PMID: 35281727 PMCID: PMC8914546 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103974] [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: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
With continued levodopa treatment, most patients with Parkinson disease (PD) develop levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs)—abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) characterized primarily by chorea. Clinically, LIDs depend on nigrostriatal degeneration and sensitization to repeated levodopa doses. However, the degree of dopamine denervation is correlated with levodopa-induced changes in striatal dopamine. Therefore, pulsatile dopamine release may induce AIMs independently of nigrostriatal degeneration. We optogenetically stimulated dopamine neurons in healthy rats as they engaged in skilled reaching. Repeated stimulation induced progressive AIMs whose severity was modified by behavioral context. AIMs were milder with stimulation during reaches, and more severe if stimulation occurred between reaches. Despite gradual induction, AIMs recurred immediately with subsequent dopamine neuron stimulation. Thus, nigrostriatal denervation is not necessary for fluctuating striatal dopamine to induce AIMs, and behavioral context modulates AIM expression. Furthermore, pulsatile dopamine release induces persistent changes in motor circuits that are revealed by subsequent dopamine neuron activation in appropriate contexts. Repeated dopamine neuron activation causes involuntary movements in healthy rats These movements resemble levodopa-induced dyskinesias in parkinsonian rats Movement severity depends on the history of prior stimulation Movement severity is diminished in rats actively engaged in goal-directed behavior
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hunter
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alexandra Bova
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Andrew Stevens
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Daniel K Leventhal
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Parkinson Disease Foundation Research Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Neurology, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
A dystonia mouse model with motor and sequencing deficits paralleling human disease. Behav Brain Res 2022; 426:113844. [PMID: 35304183 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The dystonias are a group of movement disorders characterized by involuntary twisting movements and postures. A lack of well characterized behavioral models of dystonia has impeded identification of circuit abnormalities giving rise to the disease. Most mouse behavioral assays are implemented independently of cortex, but cortical dysfunction is implicated in human dystonia. It is therefore important to identify dystonia models in which motor cortex-dependent behaviors are altered in ways relevant to human disease. The goal of this study was to characterize a cortically-dependent behavior in the recently-developed Dlx-CKO mouse model of DYT1 dystonia. Mice performed two tasks: skilled reaching and water-elicited grooming. These tests assess motor learning, dexterous skill, and innate motor sequencing. Furthermore, skilled reaching depends strongly on motor cortex, while dorsal striatum is critical for normal grooming. Dlx-CKO mice exhibited significantly lower success rates and pellet contacts compared to control mice during skilled reaching. Despite the skilled reaching impairments, Dlx-CKO mice adapt their reaching strategies. With training, they more consistently contacted the target. Grooming patterns of Dlx-CKO mice are more disorganized than in control mice, as evidenced by a higher proportion of non-chain grooming. However, when Dlx-CKO mice engage in syntactic chains, they execute them similarly to control mice. These abnormalities may provide targets for preclinical intervention trials, as well as facilitate determination of the physiologic path from torsinA dysfunction to motor phenotype.
Collapse
|
25
|
Animal models of action control and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2022; 269:227-255. [PMID: 35248196 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) has historically been considered a motor disorder induced by a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. More recently, it has been recognized to have significant non-motor symptoms, most prominently cognitive symptoms associated with a dysexecutive syndrome. It is common in the literature to see motor and cognitive symptoms treated separately and, indeed, there has been a general call for specialized treatment of the latter, particularly in the more severe cases of PD with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Animal studies have similarly been developed to model the motor or non-motor symptoms. Nevertheless, considerable research has established that segregating consideration of cognition from the precursors to motor movement, particularly movement associated with goal-directed action, is difficult if not impossible. Indeed, on some contemporary views cognition is embodied in action control, something that is particularly prevalent in theory and evidence relating to the integration of goal-directed and habitual control processes. The current paper addresses these issues within the literature detailing animal models of cognitive dysfunction in PD and their neural and neurochemical bases. Generally, studies using animal models of PD provide some of the clearest evidence for the integration of these action control processes at multiple levels of analysis and imply that consideration of this integrative process may have significant benefits for developing new approaches to the treatment of PD.
Collapse
|
26
|
Evolution of Gross Forelimb and Fine Digit Kinematics during Skilled Reaching Acquisition in Rats. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0153-21.2021. [PMID: 34625461 PMCID: PMC8555885 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0153-21.2021] [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: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to learn dexterous motor skills is a fundamental aspect of human behavior. However, the underlying neural circuit mechanisms for dexterous skill learning are unclear. Advancing our understanding of motor skill learning requires the integration of modern neuroscientific techniques with a rigorously characterized dexterous task. The development of automated rodent skilled reaching with paw tracking allows detailed analysis of how reach-to-grasp kinematics evolve during learning. We assessed how both "gross" forelimb and "fine" digit kinematics changed as rats learned skilled reaching. Rats whose success rates increased (learners) consistently reduced the variability in their reach trajectories. Refinement of fine digit control generally continued after consistency in gross hand transport to the pellet plateaued. Interestingly, most rats whose success rates did not increase (non-learners) also converged on consistent reach kinematics. Some non-learners, however, maintained substantial variability in hand and digit trajectories throughout training. These results suggest that gross and fine motor components of dexterous skill are, on average, learned over different timescales. Nonetheless, there is significant intersubject variability in learning rates as assessed by both reaching success and consistency of reach kinematics.
Collapse
|
27
|
Tolve M, Ulusoy A, Patikas N, Islam KUS, Bodea GO, Öztürk E, Broske B, Mentani A, Wagener A, van Loo KMJ, Britsch S, Liu P, Khaled WT, Metzakopian E, Baader SL, Di Monte DA, Blaess S. The transcription factor BCL11A defines distinct subsets of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109697. [PMID: 34525371 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons are diverse in their projection targets, effect on behavior, and susceptibility to neurodegeneration. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms establishing this diversity during development. We show that the transcription factor BCL11A is expressed in a subset of mDA neurons in the developing and adult murine brain and in a subpopulation of pluripotent-stem-cell-derived human mDA neurons. By combining intersectional labeling and viral-mediated tracing, we demonstrate that Bcl11a-expressing mDA neurons form a highly specific subcircuit within the murine dopaminergic system. In the substantia nigra, the Bcl11a-expressing mDA subset is particularly vulnerable to neurodegeneration upon α-synuclein overexpression or oxidative stress. Inactivation of Bcl11a in murine mDA neurons increases this susceptibility further, alters the distribution of mDA neurons, and results in deficits in skilled motor behavior. In summary, BCL11A defines mDA subpopulations with highly distinctive characteristics and is required for establishing and maintaining their normal physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Tolve
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ayse Ulusoy
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Patikas
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - K Ushna S Islam
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Gabriela O Bodea
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ece Öztürk
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Bianca Broske
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Astrid Mentani
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Antonia Wagener
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Karen M J van Loo
- Section for Translational Epilepsy Research, Department of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefan Britsch
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Pengtao Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Walid T Khaled
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB 21PD, UK; Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Emmanouil Metzakopian
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Stephan L Baader
- Institute of Anatomy, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Donato A Di Monte
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Blaess
- Neurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Leventhal DK, Albin RL. Interviewing Mice and the Functions of Striatal Dopamine. Mov Disord 2021; 36:1330-1331. [PMID: 33983666 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K Leventhal
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Parkinson Disease Foundation Research Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Neurology Service and GRECC, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Roger L Albin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Parkinson Disease Foundation Research Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Neurology Service and GRECC, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bova A, Gaidica M, Hurst A, Iwai Y, Hunter J, Leventhal DK. Precisely timed dopamine signals establish distinct kinematic representations of skilled movements. eLife 2020; 9:e61591. [PMID: 33245045 PMCID: PMC7861618 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain dopamine is critical for normal motor control, as evidenced by its importance in Parkinson Disease and related disorders. Current hypotheses are that dopamine influences motor control by 'invigorating' movements and regulating motor learning. Most evidence for these aspects of dopamine function comes from simple tasks (e.g. lever pressing). Therefore, the influence of dopamine on motor skills requiring multi-joint coordination is unknown. To determine the effects of precisely timed dopamine manipulations on the performance of a complex, finely coordinated dexterous skill, we optogenetically stimulated or inhibited midbrain dopamine neurons as rats performed a skilled reaching task. We found that reach kinematics and coordination between gross and fine movements progressively changed with repeated manipulations. However, once established, rats transitioned abruptly between aberrant and baseline reach kinematics in a dopamine-dependent manner. These results suggest that precisely timed dopamine signals have immediate and long-term influences on motor skill performance, distinct from simply 'invigorating' movement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Bova
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Matt Gaidica
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Amy Hurst
- Department of Neurology, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Yoshiko Iwai
- Department of Neurology, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Julia Hunter
- Department of Neurology, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Daniel K Leventhal
- Department of Neurology, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Parkinson Disease Foundation Research Center of Excellence, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Neurology, VA Ann Arbor Health SystemAnn ArborUnited States
| |
Collapse
|