Journal article
Cerebellar D1DR-expressing neurons modulate the frontal cortex during timing tasks
Neurobiology of learning and memory, Vol.170, pp.107067-107067
04/2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107067
PMID: 31404656
Abstract
•D1DR expressing neurons located in the LCN may play a key role in cognitive function.•Blocking D1DRs in the LCN impairs performance on an interval timing task.•Blocking D1DRs in the LCN does not strongly impair motor function.•LCN D1DR blockade attenuates MFC ramping activity required for interval timing.
Converging lines of evidence suggest that the cerebellum plays an integral role in cognitive function through its interactions with association cortices like the medial frontal cortex (MFC). It is unknown precisely how the cerebellum influences the frontal cortex and what type of information is reciprocally relayed between these two regions. A subset of neurons in the cerebellar dentate nuclei, or the homologous lateral cerebellar nuclei (LCN) in rodents, express D1 dopamine receptors (D1DRs) and may play a role in cognitive processes. We investigated how pharmacologically blocking LCN D1DRs influences performance in an interval timing task and impacts neuronal activity in the frontal cortex. Interval timing requires executive processes such as working memory, attention, and planning and is known to rely on both the frontal cortex and cerebellum. In our interval timing task, male rats indicated their estimates of the passage of a period of several seconds by making lever presses for a water reward. We have shown that a cue-evoked burst of low-frequency activity in the MFC initiates ramping activity (i.e., monotonic increases or decreases of firing rate over time) in single MFC neurons. These patterns of activity are associated with successful interval timing performance. Here we explored how blocking right LCN D1DRs with the D1DR antagonist SCH23390 influences timing performance and neural activity in the contralateral (left) MFC. Our results indicate that blocking LCN D1DRs impaired some measures of interval timing performance. Additionally, ramping activity of MFC single units was significantly attenuated. These data provide insight into how catecholamines in the LCN may drive MFC neuronal dynamics to influence cognitive function.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Cerebellar D1DR-expressing neurons modulate the frontal cortex during timing tasks
- Creators
- Jonah Heskje - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesKelsey Heslin - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesBenjamin J De Corte - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesKyle P Walsh - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesYoungcho Kim - Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesSangwoo Han - Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesErik S Carlson - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United StatesKrystal L Parker - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neurobiology of learning and memory, Vol.170, pp.107067-107067
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107067
- PMID
- 31404656
- NLM abbreviation
- Neurobiol Learn Mem
- ISSN
- 1074-7427
- eISSN
- 1095-9564
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100009670, name: NARSAD; DOI: 10.13039/100012138, name: The Nellie Ball Research Trust, award: NIMH K01 MH106824, NIMH R01MH118240; DOI: 10.13039/100008893, name: University of Iowa, award: ESC NIMH R01MH1116883
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2020
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984070535802771
Metrics
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