A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses
There is ample evidence to suggest that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) mediates cue-reward learning, especially as it relates to drug-seeking behavior. However, its exact role in these complex processes remains unknown. Here we will present and discuss data from our own laboratory...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014
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| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3953953/ |
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pubmed-39539532014-03-26 A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses Haight, Joshua L. Flagel, Shelly B. Neuroscience There is ample evidence to suggest that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) mediates cue-reward learning, especially as it relates to drug-seeking behavior. However, its exact role in these complex processes remains unknown. Here we will present and discuss data from our own laboratory which suggests that the PVT plays a role in multiple forms of stimulus-reward learning, and does so via distinct neurobiological systems. Using an animal model that captures individual variation in response to reward-associated cues, we are able to parse the incentive from the predictive properties of reward cues and to elucidate the neural circuitry underlying these different forms of cue-reward learning. When rats are exposed to a classical Pavlovian conditioning paradigm, wherein a cue predicts food reward, some rats, termed sign-trackers, approach and manipulate the cue upon its presentation. This behavior is indicative of attributing incentive salience to the cue. That is, the cue gains excessive control over behavior for sign-trackers. In contrast, other rats, termed goal-trackers, treat the cue as a mere predictor, and upon its presentation go to the location of reward delivery. Based on our own data utilizing this model, we hypothesize that the PVT represents a common node, but differentially regulates the sign- vs. goal-tracking response. We postulate that the PVT regulates sign-tracking behavior, or the attribution of incentive salience, via subcortical, dopamine-dependent mechanisms. In contrast, we propose that goal-tracking behavior, or the attribution of predictive value, is the product of “top-down” glutamatergic processing between the prelimbic cortex (PrL) and the PVT. Together, data from our laboratory and others support a role for the PVT in cue-motivated behaviors and suggest that it may be an important locus within the neural circuitry that goes awry in addiction and related disorders. Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-03-14 /pmc/articles/PMC3953953/ /pubmed/24672443 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00079 Text en Copyright © 2014 Haight and Flagel. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. |
| repository_type |
Open Access Journal |
| institution_category |
Foreign Institution |
| institution |
US National Center for Biotechnology Information |
| building |
NCBI PubMed |
| collection |
Online Access |
| language |
English |
| format |
Online |
| author |
Haight, Joshua L. Flagel, Shelly B. |
| spellingShingle |
Haight, Joshua L. Flagel, Shelly B. A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses |
| author_facet |
Haight, Joshua L. Flagel, Shelly B. |
| author_sort |
Haight, Joshua L. |
| title |
A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses |
| title_short |
A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses |
| title_full |
A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses |
| title_fullStr |
A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses |
| title_full_unstemmed |
A potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in Pavlovian conditioned responses |
| title_sort |
potential role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in mediating individual variation in pavlovian conditioned responses |
| description |
There is ample evidence to suggest that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) mediates cue-reward learning, especially as it relates to drug-seeking behavior. However, its exact role in these complex processes remains unknown. Here we will present and discuss data from our own laboratory which suggests that the PVT plays a role in multiple forms of stimulus-reward learning, and does so via distinct neurobiological systems. Using an animal model that captures individual variation in response to reward-associated cues, we are able to parse the incentive from the predictive properties of reward cues and to elucidate the neural circuitry underlying these different forms of cue-reward learning. When rats are exposed to a classical Pavlovian conditioning paradigm, wherein a cue predicts food reward, some rats, termed sign-trackers, approach and manipulate the cue upon its presentation. This behavior is indicative of attributing incentive salience to the cue. That is, the cue gains excessive control over behavior for sign-trackers. In contrast, other rats, termed goal-trackers, treat the cue as a mere predictor, and upon its presentation go to the location of reward delivery. Based on our own data utilizing this model, we hypothesize that the PVT represents a common node, but differentially regulates the sign- vs. goal-tracking response. We postulate that the PVT regulates sign-tracking behavior, or the attribution of incentive salience, via subcortical, dopamine-dependent mechanisms. In contrast, we propose that goal-tracking behavior, or the attribution of predictive value, is the product of “top-down” glutamatergic processing between the prelimbic cortex (PrL) and the PVT. Together, data from our laboratory and others support a role for the PVT in cue-motivated behaviors and suggest that it may be an important locus within the neural circuitry that goes awry in addiction and related disorders. |
| publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
| publishDate |
2014 |
| url |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3953953/ |
| _version_ |
1612067718887899136 |