瑞士巴塞尔大学A. Lüthi团队揭示控制行为动机的神经元机制。相关论文于2022年1月7日发表在《科学》杂志上。

他们在自由移动的小鼠的基底外侧杏仁核中使用 Ca2+ 成像和光遗传学操作，执行非提示、自定进度的工具性目标导向行动来接收和消耗奖励行为。他们发现不同的神经元活动模式依次代表整个行动-消耗行为序列。

与行动相关的模式整合了所追求目标的身份、价值和期望，而与消耗相关的模式则反映了所经历结果的身份和价值。因此，这些模式之间的相互作用允许维持特定的动机状态，以适应性地将行为导向预期的奖励。

据介绍，为实现目标而采取行动取决于根据个人内部状态的预测结果激发特定行为的能力。 然而，人们对编码和维持这种特定的行为动机控制的潜在神经元机制知之甚少。

附：英文原文

Title: A neuronal mechanism for motivational control of behavior

Author: J. Courtin, Y. Bitterman, S. Müller, J. Hinz, K. M. Hagihara, C. Müller, A. Lüthi

Issue&Volume: 2022-01-07

Abstract: Acting to achieve goals depends on the ability to motivate specific behaviors based on their predicted consequences given an individual’s internal state. However, the underlying neuronal mechanisms that encode and maintain such specific motivational control of behavior are poorly understood. Here, we used Ca2+ imaging and optogenetic manipulations in the basolateral amygdala of freely moving mice performing noncued, self-paced instrumental goal-directed actions to receive and consume rewards. We found that distinct neuronal activity patterns sequentially represent the entire action-consumption behavioral sequence. Whereas action-associated patterns integrated the identity, value, and expectancy of pursued goals, consumption-associated patterns reflected the identity and value of experienced outcomes. Thus, the interplay between these patterns allows the maintenance of specific motivational states necessary to adaptively direct behavior toward prospective rewards.

DOI: abg7277

Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abg7277