A Corticostriatal Path Targeting Striosomes Controls Decision-Making under Conflict.

ABSTRACT: A striking neurochemical form of compartmentalization has been found in the striatum of humans and other species, dividing it into striosomes and matrix. The function of this organization has been unclear, but the anatomical connections of striosomes indicate their relation to emotion-related brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex. We capitalized on this fact by combining pathway-specific optogenetics and electrophysiology in behaving rats to search for selective functions of striosomes. We demonstrate that a medial prefronto-striosomal circuit is selectively active in and causally necessary for cost-benefit decision-making under approach-avoidance conflict conditions known to evoke anxiety in humans. We show that this circuit has unique dynamic properties likely reflecting

SUBMITTER: Friedman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4477966 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature