
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown
Опубликована: Окт. 5, 2024
To navigate complex environments, animals must rapidly integrate sensory information and respond appropriately to gather rewards avoid threats. It is well established that dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) are key for creating maintaining associations between environmental stimuli (i.e., cues) outcomes they predict, through Pavlovian learning. However, it remains unclear how relevant integrated into (DA) pathways guide exploration The superior colliculus (SC) receives direct visual input, anatomically positioned as a relay rapid augmentation of neurons, which could underlie formation associations. Here, we characterize anatomical organization functional impact SC projections VTA SNc rats. First, using tracing techniques, show intermediate deep layers synapse densely throughout midbrain, interfacing directly with projecting striatum pallidum. Using fiber photometry, find these excite both GABA vivo. Despite this, cues predicting terminal stimulation did not reliably evoke behavior on their own an optogenetic conditioning paradigm. Further, activation terminals VTA/SNc support primary reinforcement or produce place preference avoidance. Instead, evoked head turning behavior. This body reorientation increased intensity repeated stimulations, suggesting strengthening this circuit sensorimotor learning related attentional bias. Together our results collicular contribute cueguided by controlling pose adjustments interaction systems.
Язык: Английский