title: Reward-related neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus of the monkey.
abstract: The subthalamic nucleus is a key structure for motor information processing in the basal ganglia. Little is known about its involvement in other aspects of behavior such as motivation. We investigated neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus while a monkey performed arm-reaching movements to obtain a liquid reward. Most neurons were modulated both during the movement and reward phases of the task. The changes in activity occurring after or just before the delivery of reward consisted of either increases or decreases in firing and were not directly related to mouth movements. These findings indicate that STN neurons are involved in the detection and expectation of reward, consistent with a role for these neurons in the processing of motivational information.
authors: Laboratoire de Neurobiologie de la Cognition, CNRS, 31 chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille cedex 20, France.
authors: Yassine
authors: Y
authors: Darbaky
authors: Christelle
authors: C
authors: Baunez
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Arecchi
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Legallet
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Apicella
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors