Optogenetic Editing Reveals the Hierarchical Organization of Learned Action Sequences.

ABSTRACT: The organization of action into sequences underlies complex behaviors that are essential for organismal survival and reproduction. Despite extensive studies of innate sequences in relation to central pattern generators, how learned action sequences are controlled and whether they are organized as a chain or a hierarchy remain largely unknown. By training mice to perform heterogeneous action sequences, we demonstrate that striatal direct and indirect pathways preferentially encode different behavioral levels of sequence structure. State-dependent closed-loop optogenetic stimulation of the striatal direct pathway can selectively insert a single action element into the sequence without disrupting the overall sequence length. Optogenetic manipulation of the striatal indirect pathway completely

SUBMITTER: Geddes CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6056013 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature