Topic: direct pathway

The posterior most region of the striatum receives dense innervation from sensory brain regions and has been demonstrated to play a role in behaviors that require sensorimotor integration including discrimination, avoidance and defense​ responses. The output neurons of the striatum, the D1 and D2 striatal projection neurons (SPNs) that make up the direct and indirect pathways, respectively, are thought to play differential roles in these behavioral responses, although it remains unclear if or how these neurons display differential responsivity to sensory stimuli. Here, we use whole cell membra

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive dopaminergic depletion in the striatum leading to motor deficits that often manifest with asymmetry. In this study, we investigated the role of optogenetic activation of the direct pathway in its ability to reestablish motor function and regulate oscillatory activity in cortex-basal ganglia loops. Rats received a unilateral injection of 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain bundle, followed by the delivery of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) that specifically transduced Dopamine-1-Receptor-positive medium spiny neurons (DRD1-neurons). Using th

The basal ganglia are notorious for their influence on action control and modulation of movements. Proper organization of neuronal activity within the two efferent pathways of the dorsal striatum, a major input of basal ganglia, is critical for appropriate behavioral control. The classical model of basal ganglia suggests that striatal indirect and direct pathways exert opposite action on the thalamo-cortical activation triggering motor control. Recent studies challenged this view by describing conjoint neuronal activities during action initiation or decision-making. Therefore, additional inves