Opponent control of action selection in the cortico-basal-ganglia-colliculus loop

摘要 行动选择计算是目标导向行为的核心。行动选择模型表明 通过潜在选择选项之间的竞争来选择适当的行动。选择竞争是 被认为发生在横跨额叶皮质、基底节及其下游的多区域网络 神经元群体编码潜在选择选项相互抑制的电路提供 对手对选择活动的控制。然而，这些大脑区域如何相互作用来调节这一过程和位置 选择竞争仍未解决。我们最近发现了一个额叶皮质-基底节-上丘。 决策过程中负责定向舔的动作选择的网络。不同的神经元 这个多区域网络中的人口编码了关于舔向的相反选择选项，并显示出推拉式 在舔动作之前的动态，反映了选择竞争。值得注意的是，激活或抑制 上丘足以双向控制推-拉选择的竞争动态 网络，暗示上丘是一个关键的网络节点，可以调节选择竞争。这些 数据表明，额叶皮质和基底节内的环路编码竞争选择的工作模式 选择，它们以一种地形受限的方式影响下游上丘，以驱使对手 控制特定行为的选择活动。利用一套最新开发的技术，这项提议 旨在准确定义中尺度皮质-基底节-丘脑网络以供行动选择(目标1和2) 并直接探索额叶皮质、基底节和上丘的相互作用，以解决 选择竞争(目标3)。结果将检验长期存在的行动选择理论，并阐明它们 神经电路的实现。

Abstract Action selection computations are at the core of goal-directed behavior. Models of action selection suggest that appropriate actions are selected through competition between potential choice options. Choice competition is thought to occur across a multi-regional network that span frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and their downstream circuits where neuronal population encoding potential choice options mutually inhibit each other to provide opponent control of choice activity. Yet, how these brain regions interact to mediate this process and the loci of choice competition remain unresolved. We recently identified a frontal cortico-basal-ganglia-superior colliculus network responsible for action selection of directional licking during decision-making. Distinct neuronal populations in this multi-regional network encode opposing choice options for lick direction and exhibit push-pull dynamics prior to a licking movement, reflecting choice competition. Remarkably, activating or suppressing the superior colliculus is sufficient to bidirectionally control the push-pull choice competition dynamics within the network, implicating the superior colliculus as a key network node that can mediate choice competition. These data suggest a working model in which circuits within frontal cortex and basal ganglia encode competition choice options and they influence downstream superior colliculus in a topographically confined fashion to drive opponent control of choice activity for specific actions. Leveraging a suite of recently developed technologies, this proposal aims to precisely define a mesoscale cortico-basal-ganglia-colliculus network for action selection (Aim 1 and 2) and directly probe the interactions of frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and superior colliculus to resolve the loci of choice competition (Aim 3). The outcome will test longstanding theories of action selection and elucidate their neural circuit implementations.