Abstract
Approach to reward is a fundamental adaptive behavior, disruption of which is a core symptom of addiction and depression. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine is required for reward-predictive cues to activate vigorous reward seeking, but the underlying neural mechanism is unknown. Reward-predictive cues elicit both dopamine release in the NAc and excitations and inhibitions in NAc neurons. However, a direct link has not been established between dopamine receptor activation, NAc cue-evoked neuronal activity, and rewardseeking behavior. Here, we use a novel microelectrode array that enables simultaneous recording of neuronal firing and local dopamine receptor antagonist injection. We demonstrate that, in the NAc of rats performing a discriminative stimulus task for sucrose reward, blockade of either D1 or D2 receptors selectively attenuates excitation, but not inhibition, evoked by reward-predictive cues. Furthermore, we establish that this dopamine-dependent signal is necessary for reward-seeking behavior. These results demonstrate a neural mechanism by which NAc dopamine invigorates environmentally cued reward-seeking behavior.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 14349-14364 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Journal of Neuroscience |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 43 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 22 2014 |
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Keywords
- Cue-excited neurons
- Discriminative stimulus
- Dopamine
- Nucleus accumbens
- Reward seeking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Dopamine invigorates reward seeking by promoting cue-evoked excitation in the nucleus accumbens. / du Hoffmann, Johann; Nicola, Saleem M.
In: Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 34, No. 43, 22.10.2014, p. 14349-14364.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Dopamine invigorates reward seeking by promoting cue-evoked excitation in the nucleus accumbens
AU - du Hoffmann, Johann
AU - Nicola, Saleem M.
PY - 2014/10/22
Y1 - 2014/10/22
N2 - Approach to reward is a fundamental adaptive behavior, disruption of which is a core symptom of addiction and depression. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine is required for reward-predictive cues to activate vigorous reward seeking, but the underlying neural mechanism is unknown. Reward-predictive cues elicit both dopamine release in the NAc and excitations and inhibitions in NAc neurons. However, a direct link has not been established between dopamine receptor activation, NAc cue-evoked neuronal activity, and rewardseeking behavior. Here, we use a novel microelectrode array that enables simultaneous recording of neuronal firing and local dopamine receptor antagonist injection. We demonstrate that, in the NAc of rats performing a discriminative stimulus task for sucrose reward, blockade of either D1 or D2 receptors selectively attenuates excitation, but not inhibition, evoked by reward-predictive cues. Furthermore, we establish that this dopamine-dependent signal is necessary for reward-seeking behavior. These results demonstrate a neural mechanism by which NAc dopamine invigorates environmentally cued reward-seeking behavior.
AB - Approach to reward is a fundamental adaptive behavior, disruption of which is a core symptom of addiction and depression. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine is required for reward-predictive cues to activate vigorous reward seeking, but the underlying neural mechanism is unknown. Reward-predictive cues elicit both dopamine release in the NAc and excitations and inhibitions in NAc neurons. However, a direct link has not been established between dopamine receptor activation, NAc cue-evoked neuronal activity, and rewardseeking behavior. Here, we use a novel microelectrode array that enables simultaneous recording of neuronal firing and local dopamine receptor antagonist injection. We demonstrate that, in the NAc of rats performing a discriminative stimulus task for sucrose reward, blockade of either D1 or D2 receptors selectively attenuates excitation, but not inhibition, evoked by reward-predictive cues. Furthermore, we establish that this dopamine-dependent signal is necessary for reward-seeking behavior. These results demonstrate a neural mechanism by which NAc dopamine invigorates environmentally cued reward-seeking behavior.
KW - Cue-excited neurons
KW - Discriminative stimulus
KW - Dopamine
KW - Nucleus accumbens
KW - Reward seeking
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84908002834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3492-14.2014
DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3492-14.2014
M3 - Article
VL - 34
SP - 14349
EP - 14364
JO - Journal of Neuroscience
JF - Journal of Neuroscience
SN - 0270-6474
IS - 43
ER -