Lesion of striatal patches disrupts habitual behaviors and increases behavioral variability.

ABSTRACT: Habits are automated behaviors that are insensitive to changes in behavioral outcomes. Habitual responding is thought to be mediated by the striatum, with medial striatum guiding goal-directed action and lateral striatum promoting habits. However, interspersed throughout the striatum are neurochemically differing subcompartments known as patches, which are characterized by distinct molecular profiles relative to the surrounding matrix tissue. These structures have been thoroughly characterized neurochemically and anatomically, but little is known regarding their function. Patches have been shown to be selectively activated during inflexible motor stereotypies elicited by stimulants, suggesting that patches may subserve habitual behaviors. To explore this possibility, we utilized transgenic

SUBMITTER: Nadel JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6948820 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature