Dynamic ensemble balance in direct- and indirect-pathway striatal projection neurons underlying decision-related action selection

Autor: Shunhang Tang, Lele Cui, Jingwei Pan, Ning-long Xu
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Cell Reports, Vol 43, Iss 9, Pp 114726- (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2211-1247
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114726
Popis: Summary: The posterior dorsal striatum (pDS) plays an essential role in sensory-guided decision-making. However, it remains unclear how the antagonizing direct- and indirect-pathway striatal projection neurons (dSPNs and iSPNs) work in concert to support action selection. Here, we employed deep-brain two-photon imaging to investigate pathway-specific single-neuron and population representations during an auditory-guided decision-making task. We found that the majority of pDS projection neurons predominantly encode choice information. Both dSPNs and iSPNs comprise divergent subpopulations of comparable sizes representing competing choices, rendering a multi-ensemble balance between the two pathways. Intriguingly, such ensemble balance displays a dynamic shift during the decision period: dSPNs show a significantly stronger preference for the contraversive choice than iSPNs. This dynamic shift is further manifested in the inter-neuronal coactivity and population trajectory divergence. Our results support a balance-shift model as a neuronal population mechanism coordinating the direct and indirect striatal pathways for eliciting selected actions during decision-making.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals