Activation of Striatal Neurons Causes a Perceptual Decision Bias during Visual Change Detection in Mice.

ABSTRACT: The basal ganglia are implicated in perceptual decision-making, although their specific contributions remain unclear. Here, we tested the causal role of the basal ganglia by manipulating neuronal activity in the dorsal striatum of mice performing a visual orientation-change detection (yes/no) task. Brief unilateral optogenetic stimulation caused large changes in task performance, shifting psychometric curves upward by increasing the probability of "yes" responses with only minor changes in sensitivity. For the direct pathway, these effects were significantly larger when the visual event was expected in the contralateral visual field, demonstrating a lateralized bias in responding to sensory inputs rather than a generalized increase in action initiation. For both direct and indirect pathway

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5866220 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature