Scholarlink

<p>Assigning valence to stimuli for adaptive behavior is an essential function, involving the ventral tegmental area (VTA). VTA cell types are often defined through neurotransmitters (NT). However, valence function in VTA does not parse along NT-boundaries as, within each NT-class, certain neurons are excited by reward and others by stressors. Here we identify, in male mice, the co-activated VTA neuronal ensembles for reward and stress, and determine their role in adaptive behaviors. We show that stimuli of opposite valence (opioid vs acute social stress) recruit two distinct VTA neuronal ensembles. These two ensembles continue to be preferentially engaged by congruent valence stimuli. Stimulation of VTA stress- or reward ensembles is aversive/reinforcing, respectively. Strikingly, external valence stimuli fully require activity of these small discrete VTA ensembles for conferring approach/avoidance outcomes. Overall, our study identifies distinct VTA ensembles for positive and negative valence coding and shows their indispensability for adaptive behavior.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Distinct ventral tegmental area neuronal ensembles are indispensable for reward-driven approach and stress-driven avoidance behaviors

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月2日

查看全文
  • Ioannis Koutlas,
  • Lefkothea Patrikiou,
  • Stef E. van der Starre,
  • Diaz Danko,
  • Inge G. Wolterink-Donselaar,
  • Mieneke C. M. Luijendijk,
  • Roger A. H. Adan,
  • Frank J. Meye

摘要

Assigning valence to stimuli for adaptive behavior is an essential function, involving the ventral tegmental area (VTA). VTA cell types are often defined through neurotransmitters (NT). However, valence function in VTA does not parse along NT-boundaries as, within each NT-class, certain neurons are excited by reward and others by stressors. Here we identify, in male mice, the co-activated VTA neuronal ensembles for reward and stress, and determine their role in adaptive behaviors. We show that stimuli of opposite valence (opioid vs acute social stress) recruit two distinct VTA neuronal ensembles. These two ensembles continue to be preferentially engaged by congruent valence stimuli. Stimulation of VTA stress- or reward ensembles is aversive/reinforcing, respectively. Strikingly, external valence stimuli fully require activity of these small discrete VTA ensembles for conferring approach/avoidance outcomes. Overall, our study identifies distinct VTA ensembles for positive and negative valence coding and shows their indispensability for adaptive behavior.