scholarly journals Opposing regulation of short-term memory by basal ganglia direct and indirect pathways that are coactive during behavior

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingjun Tang ◽  
Hongjiang Yang ◽  
Xia Chen ◽  
Zhouzhou Zhang ◽  
Xiao Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Quantitative Difference ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Decision Variable ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Population Activity ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Stimulation Of

The basal ganglia direct and indirect pathways are viewed to mediate opposing functions in movement. However, this classic model is challenged by recent findings that both pathways are coactive during behavior. We examined the roles of direct (dSPNs) and indirect (iSPNs) pathway spiny projection neurons in a decision-making task with a short-term memory (STM) component. Optogenetic stimulation of cortical-input-defined dSPNs and iSPNs during STM oppositely biased upcoming licking choice, without affecting licking execution. Optogenetically identified dSPNs and iSPNs showed similar response patterns, although with quantitative difference in spatiotemporal organization. To understand how coactive dSPNs and iSPNs play opposing roles, we recorded population activity in frontal cortex and the basal ganglia output nucleus SNr. Stimulation of dSPNs and iSPNs bidirectionally regulated cortical decision variable through the differential modulation of SNr ramping activity. These results reconcile different views by demonstrating that coactive dSPNs and iSPNs precisely shape cortical activity in a push-pull balance.

A cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical channel underlying short-term memory

Neuron ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Xinxin Yin ◽  
Zhouzhou Zhang ◽  
Jiejue Li ◽  
Wenyu Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory

scholarly journals Discrete attractor dynamics underlying selective persistent activity in frontal cortex

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidehiko K. Inagaki ◽  
Lorenzo Fontolan ◽  
Sandro Romani ◽  
Karel Svoboda
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Network Modeling ◽  
Motor Planning ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Persistent Activity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Population Activity ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Attractor Dynamics ◽  
Response Task

AbstractShort-term memories link events separated in time, such as past sensation and future actions. Short-term memories are correlated with selective persistent activity, which can be maintained over seconds. In a delayed response task that requires short-term memory, neurons in mouse anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM) show persistent activity that instructs future actions. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying this persistent activity we combined intracellular and extracellular electrophysiology with optogenetic perturbations and network modeling. During the delay epoch, both membrane potential and population activity of ALM neurons funneled towards discrete endpoints related to specific movement directions. These endpoints were robust to transient shifts in ALM activity caused by optogenetic perturbations. Perturbations occasionally switched the population dynamics to the other endpoint, followed by incorrect actions. Our results are consistent with discrete attractor dynamics underlying short-term memory related to motor planning.

scholarly journals Targeted photostimulation uncovers circuit motifs supporting short-term memory

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayvon Daie ◽  
Karel Svoboda ◽  
Shaul Druckmann
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Neuronal Population ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Population Activity ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Stimulus Offset

AbstractShort-term memory is associated with persistent neural activity without sustained input, arising from the interactions between neurons with short time constants1,2. A variety of neural circuit motifs could account for measured neural activity3–7. A mechanistic understanding of the neural circuits supporting short-term memory requires probing network connectivity between functionally characterized neurons8. We performed targeted photostimulation of small (< 10) groups of neurons, while imaging the response of hundreds of other neurons9,10, in anterior-lateral motor cortex (ALM) of mice performing a delayed response task11. Mice were instructed with brief auditory stimuli to make directional movements (lick left or lick right), but only after a three second delay epoch. ALM contains neurons with delay epoch activity that is selective for left or right choices. Targeted photostimulation of groups of neurons during the delay epoch allowed us to observe the functional organization of population activity and recurrent interactions underlying short-term memory. These experiments revealed strong coupling between neurons sharing similar selectivity. Brief photostimulation of functionally related neurons produced changes in activity in sparse subpopulations of nearby neurons that persisted for several seconds following stimulus offset, far outlasting the duration of the perturbation. Photostimulation produced behavioral biases that were predictable based on the selectivity of the perturbed neuronal population. These results suggest that ALM contains multiple intercalated modules, consisting of recurrently coupled neurons, that can independently maintain persistent activity.

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