Reward-related neuronal activities in basal ganglia of domestic chicks.
We aimed to reveal what is coded in the basal ganglia of domestic chicks. In the water-reinforced 'go' task, chicks learned to peck selectively at a colored bead in order to obtain a drop of water. Out of 38 units obtained, seven showed excitatory activities specifically during the reward period. In the food-reinforced go/no-go task, chicks learned to discriminate two colors to obtain mash food after a delay period. They also learned to ignore another color, which was not associated with a reward. Out of 27 units obtained, four showed excitatory activities during the cue period, specifically when a food reward was anticipated. LPO neurons may code qualities of the obtained rewards, and also chick's anticipation of the forthcoming rewards.
Yanagihara
S
S
Laboratory for Animal Information Biology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Japan.
Izawa
E
E
Koga
K
K
Matsushima
T
T
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward