Tracking progress towards a goal in corticostriatal ensembles

Authors

Liya Ma, University of British Columbia
James M. Hyman, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Anthony G. Phillips, University of British Columbia
Jeremy K. Seamans, University of British ColumbiaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-5-2014

Publication Title

Journal of Neuroscience

Volume

34

Issue

6

First page number:

2244

Last page number:

2253

Abstract

When performing sequences of actions, we constantly keep track of our current position in the sequence relative to the overall goal. The present study searched for neural representations of sequence progression in corticostriatal circuits. Neurons within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and its target region in the dorsal striatum (DS) were recorded from simultaneously as rats performed different sequences of lever presses. We analyzed the responses of the neurons to presses occurring in the “first,” “second,” or “third” serial position regardless of the particular sequence or physical levers. Principal component analysis revealed that the main source of firing rate variance in the ACC was a smooth ramp-like change as the animal progressed through the sequence toward the reward. No such smooth-ramping activity was observed in DS ensembles as firing tended to be tightly linked to each action. In the ACC, the progression in firing was observed only for correct choices and not errors, whereas in the DS, firing associated with each action in a sequence was similar regardless of whether the action was correct or not. Therefore, different forms of a signal exist within corticostriatal circuits that evolve across a sequence of actions, with DS ensembles tracking every action and ACC ensembles tracking actual progress toward the goal.

Keywords

Anterior cingulate cortex; Dorsal striatum; Electrophysiology; Ensemble; Goal; Sequence

Disciplines

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health | Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychological Phenomena and Processes

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Ma, L., Hyman, J. M., Phillips, A. G., Seamans, J. K. (2014). Tracking progress towards a goal in corticostriatal ensembles. Journal of Neuroscience, 34(6), 2244-2253.