The Role of Prefrontal Dopamine D1 Receptors in the Neural Mechanisms of Associative Learning
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Puig-2012-The Role of Prefront.pdf
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Author(s)
Puig, M. Victoria
Miller, Earl K.
Date Issued
June 2012
Journal
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Citation
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.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
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.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
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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.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.04.018
