Contribution of glutamatergic projections to neurons in the nonhuman primate lateral substantia nigra pars reticulata for the reactive inhibition
2024

How Neurons in the Primate Brain Control Actions

Sample size: 3 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Yoshida Atsushi, Hikosaka Okihide

Primary Institution: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Hypothesis

Do individual SNr neurons in macaque monkeys modulate their activity to facilitate and suppress actions?

Conclusion

Glutamatergic inputs to the lateral SNr are crucial for action suppression in primates.

Supporting Evidence

  • SNr neurons decreased firing rates during target selection and increased firing rates during rejection.
  • Pharmacological blockade of glutamatergic inputs disrupted saccadic control.

Takeaway

This study shows that certain brain cells help us decide when to act and when to hold back, and they need special signals to do this.

Methodology

Monkeys performed a sequential choice task while their SNr neuron activity was recorded and manipulated.

Participant Demographics

Three male macaque monkeys.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1101/2024.12.25.630331

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