The role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learning
Abstract Learning and memory are important in everyday life as well as in pathological conditions. The median raphe region (MRR) contributes to memory formation; however, its precise role and the neurotransmitters involved have yet to be elucidated. To address this issue, we stimulated the MRR neuro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51743-y |
| _version_ | 1797355809867300864 |
|---|---|
| author | Tiago Chaves Bibiána Török Csilla Fazekas Pedro Correia Peter Karailiev Henrieta Oravcova Eszter Sipos László Biró József Haller Daniela Jezova Dóra Zelena |
| author_facet | Tiago Chaves Bibiána Török Csilla Fazekas Pedro Correia Peter Karailiev Henrieta Oravcova Eszter Sipos László Biró József Haller Daniela Jezova Dóra Zelena |
| author_sort | Tiago Chaves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Learning and memory are important in everyday life as well as in pathological conditions. The median raphe region (MRR) contributes to memory formation; however, its precise role and the neurotransmitters involved have yet to be elucidated. To address this issue, we stimulated the MRR neurons of mice by chemogenetic technique and studied them in the operant conditioning and active avoidance tests. The virus carrier infected a variety of neuron types including both GABAergic and glutamatergic ones. Behavior was not influenced by stimulation. We hypothesize that the lack of effect was due to opposing effects exerted via GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. Therefore, next we used VGAT-Cre mice that allowed the specific manipulation of MRR-GABAergic neurons. The stimulation did not affect behavior in the learning phase of the operant conditioning task, but increased reward preference and total responses when operant contingencies were reversed. The enhanced responsiveness might be a proclivity to impulsive behavior. Stimulation facilitated learning in the active avoidance test but did not affect reversal learning in this paradigm. Our findings suggest that MRR-GABAergic neurons are involved in both learning and reversal learning, but the type of learning that is affected depends on the task. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:16:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b7c61f538ed04433a44eeebcda0d9263 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:16:26Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-b7c61f538ed04433a44eeebcda0d92632024-01-14T12:23:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-0114111510.1038/s41598-024-51743-yThe role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learningTiago Chaves0Bibiána Török1Csilla Fazekas2Pedro Correia3Peter Karailiev4Henrieta Oravcova5Eszter Sipos6László Biró7József Haller8Daniela Jezova9Dóra Zelena10Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of PécsInstitute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of PécsInstitute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of PécsInstitute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of PécsBiomedical Research Center, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of SciencesBiomedical Research Center, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of SciencesLaboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental MedicineLaboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental MedicineLaboratory of Behavioural and Stress Studies, Institute of Experimental MedicineBiomedical Research Center, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of SciencesInstitute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of PécsAbstract Learning and memory are important in everyday life as well as in pathological conditions. The median raphe region (MRR) contributes to memory formation; however, its precise role and the neurotransmitters involved have yet to be elucidated. To address this issue, we stimulated the MRR neurons of mice by chemogenetic technique and studied them in the operant conditioning and active avoidance tests. The virus carrier infected a variety of neuron types including both GABAergic and glutamatergic ones. Behavior was not influenced by stimulation. We hypothesize that the lack of effect was due to opposing effects exerted via GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. Therefore, next we used VGAT-Cre mice that allowed the specific manipulation of MRR-GABAergic neurons. The stimulation did not affect behavior in the learning phase of the operant conditioning task, but increased reward preference and total responses when operant contingencies were reversed. The enhanced responsiveness might be a proclivity to impulsive behavior. Stimulation facilitated learning in the active avoidance test but did not affect reversal learning in this paradigm. Our findings suggest that MRR-GABAergic neurons are involved in both learning and reversal learning, but the type of learning that is affected depends on the task.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51743-y |
| spellingShingle | Tiago Chaves Bibiána Török Csilla Fazekas Pedro Correia Peter Karailiev Henrieta Oravcova Eszter Sipos László Biró József Haller Daniela Jezova Dóra Zelena The role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learning Scientific Reports |
| title | The role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learning |
| title_full | The role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learning |
| title_fullStr | The role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learning |
| title_short | The role of the GABAergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement-based learning |
| title_sort | role of the gabaergic cells of the median raphe region in reinforcement based learning |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51743-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tiagochaves theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT bibianatorok theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT csillafazekas theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT pedrocorreia theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT peterkarailiev theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT henrietaoravcova theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT esztersipos theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT laszlobiro theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT jozsefhaller theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT danielajezova theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT dorazelena theroleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT tiagochaves roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT bibianatorok roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT csillafazekas roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT pedrocorreia roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT peterkarailiev roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT henrietaoravcova roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT esztersipos roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT laszlobiro roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT jozsefhaller roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT danielajezova roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning AT dorazelena roleofthegabaergiccellsofthemedianrapheregioninreinforcementbasedlearning |