Thalamic circuits for independent control of prefrontal signal and noise

Arghya Mukherjee, Norman H. Lam, Ralf D. Wimmer and Michael M. Halassa ()
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Arghya Mukherjee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Norman H. Lam: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ralf D. Wimmer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Michael M. Halassa: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature, 2021, vol. 600, issue 7887, 100-104

Abstract: Abstract Interactions between the mediodorsal thalamus and the prefrontal cortex are critical for cognition. Studies in humans indicate that these interactions may resolve uncertainty in decision-making1, but the precise mechanisms are unknown. Here we identify two distinct mediodorsal projections to the prefrontal cortex that have complementary mechanistic roles in decision-making under uncertainty. Specifically, we found that a dopamine receptor (D2)-expressing projection amplifies prefrontal signals when task inputs are sparse and a kainate receptor (GRIK4) expressing-projection suppresses prefrontal noise when task inputs are dense but conflicting. Collectively, our data suggest that there are distinct brain mechanisms for handling uncertainty due to low signals versus uncertainty due to high noise, and provide a mechanistic entry point for correcting decision-making abnormalities in disorders that have a prominent prefrontal component2–6.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04056-3

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