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Precise Coordination of Three-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics by Ventral Tegmental Area GABAergic Neurons.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hughes, RN; Watson, GDR; Petter, EA; Kim, N; Bakhurin, KI; Yin, HH
Published in: Current biology : CB
October 2019

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a midbrain region implicated in a variety of motivated behaviors. However, the function of VTA GABAergic (Vgat+) neurons remains poorly understood. Here, using three-dimensional motion capture, in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging, and optogenetics, we demonstrate a novel function of VTAVgat+ neurons. We found three distinct populations of neurons, each representing head angle about a principal axis of rotation: yaw, roll, and pitch. For each axis, opponent cell groups were found that increase firing when the head moves in one direction and decrease firing in the opposite direction. Selective excitation and inhibition of VTAVgat+ neurons generate opposite rotational movements. Thus, VTAVgat+ neurons serve a critical role in the control of rotational kinematics while pursuing a moving target. This general-purpose steering function can guide animals toward desired spatial targets in any motivated behavior.

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Published In

Current biology : CB

DOI

EISSN

1879-0445

ISSN

0960-9822

Publication Date

October 2019

Volume

29

Issue

19

Start / End Page

3244 / 3255.e4

Related Subject Headings

  • Ventral Tegmental Area
  • Optogenetics
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Male
  • GABAergic Neurons
  • Female
  • Electrophysiology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
 

Citation

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Hughes, R. N., Watson, G. D. R., Petter, E. A., Kim, N., Bakhurin, K. I., & Yin, H. H. (2019). Precise Coordination of Three-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics by Ventral Tegmental Area GABAergic Neurons. Current Biology : CB, 29(19), 3244-3255.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.022
Hughes, Ryan N., Glenn D. R. Watson, Elijah A. Petter, Namsoo Kim, Konstantin I. Bakhurin, and Henry H. Yin. “Precise Coordination of Three-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics by Ventral Tegmental Area GABAergic Neurons.Current Biology : CB 29, no. 19 (October 2019): 3244-3255.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.022.
Hughes RN, Watson GDR, Petter EA, Kim N, Bakhurin KI, Yin HH. Precise Coordination of Three-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics by Ventral Tegmental Area GABAergic Neurons. Current biology : CB. 2019 Oct;29(19):3244-3255.e4.
Hughes, Ryan N., et al. “Precise Coordination of Three-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics by Ventral Tegmental Area GABAergic Neurons.Current Biology : CB, vol. 29, no. 19, Oct. 2019, pp. 3244-3255.e4. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.022.
Hughes RN, Watson GDR, Petter EA, Kim N, Bakhurin KI, Yin HH. Precise Coordination of Three-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics by Ventral Tegmental Area GABAergic Neurons. Current biology : CB. 2019 Oct;29(19):3244-3255.e4.
Journal cover image

Published In

Current biology : CB

DOI

EISSN

1879-0445

ISSN

0960-9822

Publication Date

October 2019

Volume

29

Issue

19

Start / End Page

3244 / 3255.e4

Related Subject Headings

  • Ventral Tegmental Area
  • Optogenetics
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Male
  • GABAergic Neurons
  • Female
  • Electrophysiology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena