Dopaminergic modulation of short-term synaptic plasticity at striatal inhibitory synapses.

ABSTRACT: Circuit properties, such as the selection of motor synergies, have been posited as relevant tasks for the recurrent inhibitory synapses between spiny projection neurons of the neostriatum, a nucleus of the basal ganglia participating in procedural learning and voluntary motor control. Here we show how the dopaminergic system regulates short-term plasticity (STP) in these synapses. STP is thought to endow neuronal circuits with computational powers such as gain control, filtering, and the emergence of transitory net states. But little is known about STP regulation. Employing unitary and population synaptic recordings, we observed that activation of dopamine receptors can modulate STP between spiny neurons. A D(1)-class agonist enhances, whereas a D(2)-class agonist decreases, short-term dep

SUBMITTER: Tecuapetla F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1885397 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature