RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Multiple Functions of Cerebello-Thalamic Neurons in Learning and Offline Consolidation of a Motor Skill in mice
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2024.09.11.612475
DO 10.1101/2024.09.11.612475
A1 Varani, Andres P
A1 Mailhes-Hamon, Caroline
A1 Sala, Romain W
A1 Fouda, Sarah
A1 Frontera, Jimena L
A1 Léna, Clément
A1 Popa, Daniela
YR 2024
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2024/09/11/2024.09.11.612475.abstract
AB Motor skill learning is a complex and gradual process that involves the cortex and basal ganglia, both crucial for the acquisition and long-term retention of skills. The cerebellum, which rapidly learns to adjust the movement, connects to the motor cortex and the striatum via the ventral and intralaminar thalamus respectively. Here, we evaluated the contribution of cerebellar neurons projecting to these thalamic nuclei in a skilled locomotion task in mice. Using a targeted chemogenetic inhibition that preserves the motor abilities, we found that cerebellar nuclei neurons projecting to the intralaminar thalamus contribute to learning and expression, while cerebellar nuclei neurons projecting to the ventral thalamus contribute to offline consolidation. Asymptotic performance, however, required each type of neurons. Thus, our results show that cerebellar neurons belonging to two parallel cerebello-thalamic pathways play distinct, but complementary, roles functioning on different timescales and both necessary for motor skill learning.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.