Cited by 354Motor Control and AdaptationNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Dopaminergic Projections from Midbrain to Primary Motor Cortex Mediate Motor Skill Learning

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Hosp, Jonas A., Pekanovic, Ana, Rioult-Pedotti, Mengia S., Luft, Andreas R.·2011·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

The primary motor cortex (M1) of the rat contains dopaminergic terminals. The origin of this dopaminergic projection and its functional role for movement are obscure. Other areas of cortex receive dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain, and these projections are involved in learning phenomena. We therefore hypothesized that M1 receives a dopaminergic projection from VTA and that this projection mediates the learning of a motor skill by inducing cellular plasticity events in M1. Retrograde tracing from M1 of Long–Evans rats in conjunction with tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry identified dopaminergic cell bodies in VTA. Electrical stimulation of VTA induced expression of the immediate-early gene c- fos in M1, which was blocked by intracortical injections of D 1 and D 2 antagonists. Destroying VTA dopaminergic neurons prevented the improvements in forelimb reaching seen in controls during daily training. Learning recovered on administration of levodopa into the M1 of VTA-lesioned animals. Lesioning VTA did not affect performance of an already learned skill, hence, left movement execution intact. These findings provide evidence that dopaminergic terminals in M1 originate in VTA, contribute to M1 plasticity, and are necessary for successful motor skill learning. Because VTA dopaminergic neurons are known to signal rewards, the VTA-to-M1 projection is a candidate for relaying reward information that could directly support the encoding of a motor skill within M1.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.5411-10.2011

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  • The nigrostriatal system receives projections from the mesolimbic system, which may interact with the motor system, including the primary motor cortex, via other direct and indirect pathways.

    “Importantly, the latter system receives projections from the former (Draganski,B.,Kherif, F., Kloppel, S.,Cook, P. A.,Alexander,D.C., Parker et al., 2008;Schmidt, Lebreton, Clery-Melin, Daunizeau, & Pessiglioni, 2012;Yin, Ostlund, Balleine, 2008), which may interact with the motor system, including the primary motor cortex, via other direct and indirect pathways (Hosp, Pekanovic, Rioult-Pedotti, &”

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Authors
Hosp, J. A., Pekanovic, A., Rioult-Pedotti, M. S., & Luft, A. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Zurich (CH)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Luft, Andreas R.
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2011-02-16
Volume
31
Issue
7
Pages
2481-2487
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2019256317
Cited by
354
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 20
FWCI
12.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
dopaminergic pathways, ventral tegmental area, primary motor cortex, motor skill learning, dopamine D1 receptor, dopamine D2 receptor, c-fos, cellular plasticity, reward signaling, forelimb reaching, levodopa, retrograde tracing
MeSH terms
Afferent Pathways, Amidines, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Benzazepines, Conditioning, Operant, Dopamine, Drug Combinations, Gene Expression Regulation, Male, Motor Cortex, Motor Skills, Neurons, Reaction Time, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, Oxidopamine, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos, Ventral Tegmental Area, Dopamine Antagonists, Adrenergic Agents, Rats, Long-Evans, Raclopride, Rats

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