Dopamine enhances signal-to-noise ratio in cortical-brainstem encoding of aversive stimuli

Caitlin M. Vander Weele, Cody A. Siciliano, Gillian A. Matthews, Praneeth Namburi, Ehsan M. Izadmehr, Isabella C. Espinel, Edward H. Nieh, Evelien H. S. Schut, Nancy Padilla-Coreano, Anthony Burgos-Robles, Chia-Jung Chang, Eyal Y. Kimchi, Anna Beyeler, Romy Wichmann, Craig P. Wildes and Kay M. Tye ()
Additional contact information
Caitlin M. Vander Weele: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cody A. Siciliano: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gillian A. Matthews: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Praneeth Namburi: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ehsan M. Izadmehr: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Isabella C. Espinel: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Edward H. Nieh: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Evelien H. S. Schut: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nancy Padilla-Coreano: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Anthony Burgos-Robles: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chia-Jung Chang: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Eyal Y. Kimchi: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Anna Beyeler: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Romy Wichmann: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Craig P. Wildes: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kay M. Tye: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature, 2018, vol. 563, issue 7731, 397-401

Abstract: Abstract Dopamine modulates medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity to mediate diverse behavioural functions1,2; however, the precise circuit computations remain unknown. One potentially unifying model by which dopamine may underlie a diversity of functions is by modulating the signal-to-noise ratio in subpopulations of mPFC neurons3–6, where neural activity conveying sensory information (signal) is amplified relative to spontaneous firing (noise). Here we demonstrate that dopamine increases the signal-to-noise ratio of responses to aversive stimuli in mPFC neurons projecting to the dorsal periaqueductal grey (dPAG). Using an electrochemical approach, we reveal the precise time course of pinch-evoked dopamine release in the mPFC, and show that mPFC dopamine biases behavioural responses to aversive stimuli. Activation of mPFC–dPAG neurons is sufficient to drive place avoidance and defensive behaviours. mPFC–dPAG neurons display robust shock-induced excitations, as visualized by single-cell, projection-defined microendoscopic calcium imaging. Finally, photostimulation of dopamine terminals in the mPFC reveals an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio in mPFC–dPAG responses to aversive stimuli. Together, these data highlight how dopamine in the mPFC can selectively route sensory information to specific downstream circuits, representing a potential circuit mechanism for valence processing.

Keywords: Dopamine; Fast-scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV); Constant White Noise; Adhesive Cement; Cs Suc (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0682-1

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