VTA neurons coordinate with the hippocampal reactivation of spatial experience
Abstract
Spatial learning requires the hippocampus, and the replay of spatial sequences during hippocampal sharp wave-ripple (SPW-R) events of quiet wakefulness and sleep is believed to play a crucial role. To test whether the coordination of VTA reward prediction error signals with these replayed spatial sequences could contribute to this process, we recorded from neuronal ensembles of the hippocampus and VTA as rats performed appetitive spatial tasks and subsequently slept. We found that many reward responsive (RR) VTA neurons coordinated with quiet wakefulness-associated hippocampal SPW-R events that replayed recent experience. In contrast, coordination between RR neurons and SPW-R events in subsequent slow wave sleep was diminished. Together, these results indicate distinct contributions of VTA reinforcement activity associated with hippocampal spatial replay to the processing of wake and SWS-associated spatial memory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 14, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.7554/elife.05360
Entities
People
- Fabian Kloosterman
- Matthew A. Wilson
- Stephen N. Gomperts
Organizations
- Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Institutes of Health
- Office of Naval Research