The striatum is essential for learning which actions lead to reward and for implementing
those actions. Decades of experimental and theoretical work have led to several influential …

This Perspective will examine the organization of intrastriatal circuitry, review recent findings
in this area, and discuss how the pattern of connectivity between striatal neurons might give …

External rewards such as food and money are potent modifiers of behaviour,. Pioneering
studies established that these salient sensory stimuli briefly interrupt the tonic discharge of …

At the core of value-based learning is the nucleus accumbens (NAc). D1-and D2-receptor-
containing medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the NAc core are hypothesized to have …

The striatum integrates excitatory inputs from the cortex and the thalamus to control diverse
functions. Although the striatum is thought to consist of sensorimotor, associative and limbic …

Deciding what to do and when to move is vital to our survival. Clinical and fundamental
studies have identified basal ganglia circuits as critical for this process. The main input …

To deconstruct the architecture and function of brain circuits, it is necessary to generate
maps of neuronal connectivity and activity on a whole-brain scale. New methods now …

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by two seemingly unrelated symptom
domains—deficits in social interactions and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavioral …

The'one neuron, one neurotransmitter'doctrine states that synaptic communication between
two neurons occurs through the release of a single chemical transmitter. However, recent …

The striatum has been involved in complex behaviors such as motor control, learning,
decision-making, reward and aversion. The striatum is mainly composed of medium spiny …