Spatial Rule Learning and Corresponding CA1 Place Cell Reorientation Depend on Local Dopamine Release

1. Curr Biol. 2018 Mar 19;28(6):836-846.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.01.081. Epub
2018 Mar 1.

Spatial Rule Learning and Corresponding CA1 Place Cell Reorientation Depend on
Local Dopamine Release.

Retailleau A(1), Morris G(2).

Author information:
(1)Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
(2)Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The
Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa,
Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: .

Incentives drive goal-directed behavior; however, how they impact the formation
and stabilization of goal-relevant hippocampal maps remains unknown. Since
dopamine is involved in reward processing, affects hippocampal-dependent
behavior, and modulates hippocampal plasticity, we hypothesized that local
dopaminergic transmission in the hippocampus serves to mold the formation and
updating of hippocampal cognitive maps to adaptively represent reward-predicting
space of sensory inputs. We recorded CA1 place cells of rats throughout training
on a spatial extra-dimensional set-shift task. After learning to rely on one of
two orthogonal sets of cues, we introduced a rule shift and infused locally the
D1/5 receptor (D1/5R) antagonist SCH23390. Successful learning was accompanied by
place cell reorientation to represent rule-relevant spatial dimension. SCH23390
infusion prevented this remapping and, consequently, impaired learning, causing
perseveration. These findings suggest that dopaminergic innervation provides
reward information to the hippocampus and is critical for the stabilization of
goal-related hippocampal representation, contributing to successful goal-directed
behavior.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.01.081
PMID: 29502949

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