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- Title
Synaptic mechanisms for associative learning in the cerebellar nuclei.
- Authors
Broersen, Robin; Albergaria, Catarina; Carulli, Daniela; Carey, Megan R.; Canto, Cathrin B.; De Zeeuw, Chris I.
- Abstract
Associative learning during delay eyeblink conditioning (EBC) depends on an intact cerebellum. However, the relative contribution of changes in the cerebellar nuclei to learning remains a subject of ongoing debate. In particular, little is known about the changes in synaptic inputs to cerebellar nuclei neurons that take place during EBC and how they shape the membrane potential of these neurons. Here, we probed the ability of these inputs to support associative learning in mice, and investigated structural and cell-physiological changes within the cerebellar nuclei during learning. We find that optogenetic stimulation of mossy fiber afferents to the anterior interposed nucleus (AIP) can substitute for a conditioned stimulus and is sufficient to elicit conditioned responses (CRs) that are adaptively well-timed. Further, EBC induces structural changes in mossy fiber and inhibitory inputs, but not in climbing fiber inputs, and it leads to changes in subthreshold processing of AIP neurons that correlate with conditioned eyelid movements. The changes in synaptic and spiking activity that precede the CRs allow for a decoder to distinguish trials with a CR. Our data reveal how structural and physiological modifications of synaptic inputs to cerebellar nuclei neurons can facilitate learning. The role of the cerebellar nuclei (CN) during associative learning remains debated. Here, the authors show that well-timed conditioned responses can result from stimulating CN inputs, and that learning coincides with structural and synaptic activity changes in vivo.
- Subjects
CEREBELLAR nuclei; ASSOCIATIVE learning; CONDITIONED response; MEMBRANE potential; AFFERENT pathways; CEREBELLUM; NEURONS
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2023, Vol 14, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-023-43227-w