Cortical cholinergic signaling controls the detection of cues

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1516134113
• Publication Date: 2016-02-23T19:13:34Z
• Authors: Howard J. Gritton; William M. Howe; Caitlin S. Mallory; Vaughn L. Hetrick; Joshua D. Berke; Martin Sarter
• Keywords: Photostimulation; Cholinergic Fibers

The cortical cholinergic input system has been described as a neuromodulator that influences broadly defined behavioral and brain states. discovery of phasic, trial-based increases in extracellular choline (transients), resulting from the hydrolysis newly released acetylcholine (ACh), cortex animals reporting presence cues suggests ACh may have more specialized role cognitive processes. Here we expressed channelrhodopsin or halorhodopsin basal forebrain neurons mice with optic fibers directed into this region prefrontal cortex. Cholinergic transients, evoked accordance photostimulation parameters determined vivo, were generated performing task necessitating cue noncue events. Generating transients conjunction enhanced detection rates. Moreover, generating noncued trials, where normally are not observed, increased number invalid claims for cues. Enhancing hits false alarms both scaled stimulation intensity. Suppression endogenous activity during cued trials reduced hit be essential synchronizing neuronal output driven by salient executing cue-guided responses.