The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning
Dopamine is thought to play a major role in learning. However, while dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been shown to modulate working memory-related neural activity, their role in the cellular basis of learning is unknown. We recorded activity from multiple electrodes...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
| Published: |
Elsevier B.V.
2014
|
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/91711 |
| _version_ | 1811092877235716096 |
|---|---|
| author | Puig, M. Victoria Miller, Earl K. |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Puig, M. Victoria Miller, Earl K. |
| author_sort | Puig, M. Victoria |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Dopamine is thought to play a major role in learning. However, while dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been shown to modulate working memory-related neural activity, their role in the cellular basis of learning is unknown. We recorded activity from multiple electrodes while injecting the D1R antagonist SCH23390 in the lateral PFC as monkeys learned visuomotor associations. Blocking D1Rs impaired learning of novel associations and decreased cognitive flexibility but spared performance of already familiar associations. This suggests a greater role for prefrontal D1Rs in learning new, rather than performing familiar, associations. There was a corresponding greater decrease in neural selectivity and increase in alpha and beta oscillations in local field potentials for novel than for familiar associations. Our results suggest that weak stimulation of D1Rs observed in aging and psychiatric disorders may impair learning and PFC function by reducing neural selectivity and exacerbating neural oscillations associated with inattention and cognitive deficits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:32:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/91711 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:32:11Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Elsevier B.V. |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/917112022-09-29T14:51:44Z The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning Puig, M. Victoria Miller, Earl K. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Miller, Earl K. Puig, M. Victoria Dopamine is thought to play a major role in learning. However, while dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been shown to modulate working memory-related neural activity, their role in the cellular basis of learning is unknown. We recorded activity from multiple electrodes while injecting the D1R antagonist SCH23390 in the lateral PFC as monkeys learned visuomotor associations. Blocking D1Rs impaired learning of novel associations and decreased cognitive flexibility but spared performance of already familiar associations. This suggests a greater role for prefrontal D1Rs in learning new, rather than performing familiar, associations. There was a corresponding greater decrease in neural selectivity and increase in alpha and beta oscillations in local field potentials for novel than for familiar associations. Our results suggest that weak stimulation of D1Rs observed in aging and psychiatric disorders may impair learning and PFC function by reducing neural selectivity and exacerbating neural oscillations associated with inattention and cognitive deficits. Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology (CELEST, NSF OMA-0835976) Human Frontier Science Program (Strasbourg, France) 2014-11-24T17:58:01Z 2014-11-24T17:58:01Z 2012-06 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 08966273 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/91711 Puig, M. Victoria, and Earl K. Miller. “The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning.” Neuron 74, no. 5 (June 2012): 874–886. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.04.018 Neuron Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf Elsevier B.V. Elsevier |
| spellingShingle | Puig, M. Victoria Miller, Earl K. The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning |
| title | The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning |
| title_full | The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning |
| title_short | The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning |
| title_sort | role of prefrontal dopamine d1 receptors in the neural mechanisms of associative learning |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/91711 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT puigmvictoria theroleofprefrontaldopamined1receptorsintheneuralmechanismsofassociativelearning AT millerearlk theroleofprefrontaldopamined1receptorsintheneuralmechanismsofassociativelearning AT puigmvictoria roleofprefrontaldopamined1receptorsintheneuralmechanismsofassociativelearning AT millerearlk roleofprefrontaldopamined1receptorsintheneuralmechanismsofassociativelearning |