Action Selection and Flexible Switching Controlled by the Intralaminar Thalamic Neurons

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.02.016
• Publication Date: 2018-02-27T16:39:49Z
• Authors: Shigeki Kato; Ryoji Fukabori; Kayo Nishizawa; Kana Okada; Nozomu Yoshioka; Masateru Sugawara; Yuko Maejima; Kenju Shimomura; Masahiro Okamoto; Satoshi Eifuku; Kazuto Kobayashi
• Keywords: Action selection; Stimulus (psychology)

Learning processes contributing to appropriate selection and flexible switching of behaviors are mediated through the dorsal striatum, a key structure basal ganglia circuit. The major inputs striatal subdivisions provided from intralaminar thalamic nuclei, including central lateral nucleus (CL) parafascicular (PF). Thalamostriatal neurons in PF modulate acquisition performance stimulus-response learning. Here, we address roles CL thalamostriatal learning by using selective neural pathway targeting technique. We show that essential for behavioral flexibility, reversal attentional set-shifting learned responses. In addition, chemogenetic suppression activity supports requirements these flexibility. Our results suggest main contribution is functional control circuit linked prefrontal cortex.