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Recording neuronal activity using miniscopes

Background

Our behaviours are often the result of complex combinations of genetic and environmental factors. Sometimes they can be characterized as action-outcome learning or a goal-directed behavior, where an action results in a reward reinforcing that action. Persistence and repetition of a behavior, particularly when a pattern of rewards becomes more intermittent, encourages more habitual behavior governed by stimulus-response learning, where a trigger prompts the behaviour as a response.

The dorsal striatum, a principle component of the basal ganglia, regulates complex cognitive functions, including selecting the neuronal resources required for goal-directed or habitual control of behavior. Cholinergic interneurons (CINs) influence striatal function by a variety of mechanisms and secrete two distinct neurotransmitters, acetylcholine (ACh) and glutamate (Glu), suggesting the use of co-transmission for neuronal regulation. However, we do not yet fully understand how cognitive outputs can be controlled by regulation of the co-transmission of these neurotransmitters.

The Problem

We would like to understand more about how CINs-dependent co-transmission can regulate the transition from goal-directed behavior to habit formation and how CINs regulate information processing. This work could have wide implications for many compulsion states.

The Project

Our overarching goal is to understand how the striatum can select between competing options to favor goal-directed behaviors or the establishment of habitual control. This will provide fundamental and transformational insights into the regulation of cognitive functions by co-transmission.

We will be optically recording striatal neurons with miniscopes to understand their involvement in cognitive functions, a high-risk and technically demanding critical foundational milestone to this work. Miniscopes enable us to observe neuronal activity while the brain is active. Combining miniscopes with touchscreen technology and behavioural activities has not been reported by any other research group.

Western Researchers Marco Prado Sylvian Williams Vania Prado Salah El Mestikawy

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