2. Academic Validation
  3. Subthalamic nucleus stabilizes movements by reducing neural spike variability in monkey basal ganglia

Subthalamic nucleus stabilizes movements by reducing neural spike variability in monkey basal ganglia

  • Nat Commun. 2022 Apr 25;13(1):2233. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-29750-2.
Taku Hasegawa 1,  Satomi Chiken 1 2,  Kenta Kobayashi 2 3,  Atsushi Nambu 4 5 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Division of System Neurophysiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.
  • 2 Department of Physiological Sciences, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.
  • 3 Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.
  • 4 Division of System Neurophysiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan. nambu@nips.ac.jp.
  • 5 Department of Physiological Sciences, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan. nambu@nips.ac.jp.
  • 6 Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan. nambu@nips.ac.jp.
PMID: 35468893 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29750-2
Abstract

The subthalamic nucleus projects to the external and internal pallidum, the modulatory and output nuclei of the basal ganglia, respectively, and plays an indispensable role in controlling voluntary movements. However, the precise mechanism by which the subthalamic nucleus controls pallidal activity and movements remains elusive. Here, we utilize chemogenetics to reversibly reduce neural activity of the motor subregion of the subthalamic nucleus in three macaque monkeys (Macaca fuscata, both sexes) during a reaching task. Systemic administration of chemogenetic ligands prolongs movement time and increases spike train variability in the pallidum, but only slightly affects firing rate modulations. Across-trial analyses reveal that the irregular discharges in the pallidum coincides with prolonged movement time. Reduction of subthalamic activity also induces excessive abnormal movements in the contralateral forelimb, which are preceded by subthalamic and pallidal phasic activity changes. Our results suggest that the subthalamic nucleus stabilizes pallidal spike trains and achieves stable movements.

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