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A Novel Basal Ganglia Pathway Forms a Loop Linking a Vocal Learning Circuit with Its Dopaminergic Input by Samuel D. Gale; Abigail L. Person; David J. Perkel is a Neuroscience article available to read on EtoBox.

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## Abstract Dopamine has been implicated in mediating contextual modulation of motor behaviors and learning in many species. In songbirds, dopamine may act on the basal ganglia nucleus Area X to influence the neural activity that contributes to vocal learning and contextual changes in song variability. Neurons in midbrain dopamine centers, the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), densely innervate Area X and show singing‐related changes in firing rate. In addition, dopamine levels in Area X change during singing. It is unknown, however, how song‐related information could reach dopaminergic neurons. Here we report an anatomical pathway that could provide song‐related information to the SNc and VTA. By using injections of bidirectionally transported fluorescent tracers in adult male zebra finches, we show that Area X and other song control nuclei do not project directly to the SNc or VTA. Instead, we describe an indirect pathway from Area X to midbrain dopaminergic neurons via a connection in the ventral pallidum (VP). Specifically, Area X projects to the VP via axon collaterals of Area X output neurons that also project to the thalamus. Dual injecti

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Author

Samuel D. Gale; Abigail L. Person; David J. Perkel

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Wiley; Research Square (ISSN 0021-9967)

Published

2008

Language

EN

Field

Neuroscience (Life Sciences)