Mediodorsal thalamus hypofunction impairs flexible goal-directed behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cognitive inflexibility is a core symptom of several mental disorders including schizophrenia. Brain imaging studies in schizophrenia patients performing cognitive tasks have reported decreased activation of the mediodorsal thalamus (MD). Using a pharmacogenetic approach to model MD hypofunction, we recently showed that decreasing MD activity impairs reversal learning in mice. While this demonstrates causality between MD hypofunction and cognitive inflexibility, questions remain about the elementary cognitive processes that account for the deficit.

Methods

Using the Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs system, we reversibly decreased MD activity during behavioral tasks assessing elementary cognitive processes inherent to flexible goal-directe

SUBMITTER: Parnaudeau S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4177020 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature