本期Nature Communications上發(fā)表的一篇研究論文描述了負(fù)責(zé)在嚙齒類動物的習(xí)慣性行動和目標(biāo)性行動之間切換的神經(jīng)過程,。這些發(fā)現(xiàn)讓我們對大腦處理現(xiàn)實(shí)中日常情況的連線方式有了新認(rèn)識,，同時也有可能提供有關(guān)在“強(qiáng)迫癥”等疾病中被擾亂的系統(tǒng)的信息,。
所有動物都不斷會碰到需要對其行動的后果進(jìn)行內(nèi)部評估的情況,，重要的是它們能夠在習(xí)慣性行動和目標(biāo)性行動之間進(jìn)行切換,。雖然主管目標(biāo)性或習(xí)慣性行動的學(xué)習(xí)和執(zhí)行的神經(jīng)回路已被部分識別出來,，但我們對這些行動和習(xí)慣是怎樣在這些回路中被編碼的卻知之甚少,。Christina Gremel和Rui Costa設(shè)計(jì)了一個新穎的小鼠行為任務(wù)：小鼠可以輕易地在用目標(biāo)性策略或習(xí)慣性策略來執(zhí)行壓杠桿的動作之間進(jìn)行切換,，但在每一種情況下得到的獎勵都是相同的,。通過獲取來自大腦的神經(jīng)記錄他們發(fā)現(xiàn)，大腦的“眶額皮層”和“背內(nèi)側(cè)紋狀體”區(qū)域是向目標(biāo)性行動的行為切換所必需的,，而“背內(nèi)側(cè)紋狀體”是向習(xí)慣性行動的行為切換所必需的,。
雖然這些研究是用小鼠完成的,，但作者希望這些發(fā)現(xiàn)將會加深我們對習(xí)慣和目標(biāo)性行動之間的平衡被破壞的疾病如上癮和強(qiáng)迫癥等的認(rèn)識。（生物谷 Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦的英文摘要
Nature Communications doi:10.1038/ncomms3264
Orbitofrontal and striatal circuits dynamically encode the shift between goal-directed and habitual actions
Christina M. Gremel & Rui M. Costa
Shifting between goal-directed and habitual actions allows for efficient and flexible decision making. Here we demonstrate a novel, within-subject instrumental lever-pressing paradigm, in which mice shift between goal-directed and habitual actions. We identify a role for orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in actions following outcome revaluation, and confirm that dorsal medial (DMS) and lateral striatum (DLS) mediate different action strategies. Simultaneous in vivo recordings of OFC, DMS and DLS neuronal ensembles during shifting reveal that the same neurons display different activities depending on whether presses are goal-directed or habitual, with DMS and OFC becoming more and DLS less engaged during goal-directed actions. Importantly, the magnitude of neural activity changes in OFC following changes in outcome value positively correlates with the level of goal-directed behavior. Chemogenetic inhibition of OFC disrupts goal-directed actions, whereas optogenetic activation of OFC specifically increases goal-directed pressing. These results also reveal a role for OFC in action revaluation, which has implications for understanding compulsive behavior.
