Maturation of cortical input to dorsal raphe nucleus increases behavioral persistence in mice.

ABSTRACT: The ability to persist toward a desired objective is a fundamental aspect of behavioral control whose impairment is implicated in several behavioral disorders. One of the prominent features of behavioral persistence is that its maturation occurs relatively late in development. This is presumed to echo the developmental time course of a corresponding circuit within late-maturing parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, but the specific identity of the responsible circuits is unknown. Here, we used a genetic approach to describe the maturation of the projection from layer 5 neurons of the neocortex to the dorsal raphe nucleus in mice. Using optogenetic-assisted circuit mapping, we show that this projection undergoes a dramatic increase in synaptic potency between postnatal weeks 3

SUBMITTER: Gutierrez-Castellanos N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10994666 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature