Synaptic mechanisms modulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of striatal direct pathway neurons and motor output.

ABSTRACT: Striatal spiny-projection neurons (SPNs) integrate glutamatergic inputs from the motor cortex and thalamus with neuromodulatory signals to regulate motor output. In vivo Ca²⁺ imaging has demonstrated that spatially overlapping ensembles of direct and indirect pathway SPNs (dSPNs, iSPNs) are co-active during spontaneous movement. This co-activity is statistically greater among nearby neurons, correlates with behavioral state, and changes in an SPN-type-specific manner under pathological conditions. How this co-activity arises and whether it is important for movement are not well understood. Co-activity likely arises from shared excitatory inputs, the strength of which are scaled by well-characterized mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Here, we show that the Group I metabotropic g

SUBMITTER: Marshall JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12844889 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature