A silent eligibility trace enables dopamine-dependent synaptic plasticity for reinforcement learning in the mouse striatum.

ABSTRACT: Dopamine-dependent synaptic plasticity is a candidate mechanism for reinforcement learning. A silent eligibility trace - initiated by synaptic activity and transformed into synaptic strengthening by later action of dopamine - has been hypothesized to explain the retroactive effect of dopamine in reinforcing past behaviour. We tested this hypothesis by measuring time-dependent modulation of synaptic plasticity by dopamine in adult mouse striatum, using whole-cell recordings. Presynaptic activity followed by postsynaptic action potentials (pre-post) caused spike-timing-dependent long-term depression in D1-expressing neurons, but not in D2 neurons, and not if postsynaptic activity followed presynaptic activity. Subsequent experiments focused on D1 neurons. Applying a dopamine D1 receptor agon

SUBMITTER: Shindou T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6585681 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature