Electrophysiological responses of nucleus accumbens neurons to novelty stimuli and exploratory behavior in the awake, unrestrained rat.
To establish a physiological correlate of goal-directed and reward-seeking non-operant behaviors, we studied the electrophysiological activity of NAcc neurons in unrestrained, naive Sprague-Dawley rats. Our results showed an inhibitory response in 21% (7/34) of the recorded NAcc neurons during spontaneous nosepoking behavior and in 16% (4/25) of the NAcc neurons when rats were fed with a favorite novel food morsel (popcorn). These data suggest that a subgroup of NAcc neurons is actively modulated during motivated behavior and during consummatory events resulting in a suppression of neuronal activity.
Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, Blake Building CVN-13, 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
R S
RS
Lee
G F
GF
Koob
S J
SJ
Henriksen
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley