{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Deng H"],"funding":["NIDA NIH HHS","NIMH NIH HHS","NINDS NIH HHS","NCI NIH HHS"],"pagination":["6344-6360.e18"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9103523"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["184(26)"],"pubmed_abstract":["The anterior insular cortex (aIC) plays a critical role in cognitive and motivational control of behavior, but the underlying neural mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show that aIC neurons expressing Fezf2 (aIC<sup>Fezf2</sup>), which are the pyramidal tract neurons, signal motivational vigor and invigorate need-seeking behavior through projections to the brainstem nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). aIC<sup>Fezf2</sup> neurons and their postsynaptic NTS neurons acquire anticipatory activity through learning, which encodes the perceived value and the vigor of actions to pursue homeostatic needs. Correspondingly, aIC → NTS circuit activity controls vigor, effort, and striatal dopamine release but only if the action is learned and the outcome is needed. Notably, aIC<sup>Fezf2</sup> neurons do not represent taste or valence. Moreover, aIC → NTS activity neither drives reinforcement nor influences total consumption. These results pinpoint specific functions of aIC → NTS circuit for selectively controlling motivational vigor and suggest that motivation is subserved, in part, by aIC's top-down regulation of dopamine signaling."],"journal":["Cell"],"pubmed_title":["A genetically defined insula-brainstem circuit selectively controls motivational vigor."],"pmcid":["PMC9103523"],"funding_grant_id":["R01 MH101214","P30 CA045508","R01 NS104944","R01 MH108924","R01 DA050374","U19 MH114821"],"pubmed_authors":["Hantman A","Li Y","Huang ZJ","Xiao X","Li B","Yang T","Ritola K","Deng H"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"A genetically defined insula-brainstem circuit selectively controls motivational vigor.","description":"The anterior insular cortex (aIC) plays a critical role in cognitive and motivational control of behavior, but the underlying neural mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show that aIC neurons expressing Fezf2 (aIC<sup>Fezf2</sup>), which are the pyramidal tract neurons, signal motivational vigor and invigorate need-seeking behavior through projections to the brainstem nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). aIC<sup>Fezf2</sup> neurons and their postsynaptic NTS neurons acquire anticipatory activity through learning, which encodes the perceived value and the vigor of actions to pursue homeostatic needs. Correspondingly, aIC → NTS circuit activity controls vigor, effort, and striatal dopamine release but only if the action is learned and the outcome is needed. Notably, aIC<sup>Fezf2</sup> neurons do not represent taste or valence. Moreover, aIC → NTS activity neither drives reinforcement nor influences total consumption. These results pinpoint specific functions of aIC → NTS circuit for selectively controlling motivational vigor and suggest that motivation is subserved, in part, by aIC's top-down regulation of dopamine signaling.","dates":{"release":"2021-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2021 Dec","modification":"2026-05-31T15:53:52.977Z","creation":"2025-02-19T01:39:23.79Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC9103523","cross_references":{"pubmed":["34890577"],"doi":["10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.019"]}}