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Dual-Color Single-Cell Imaging of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Reveals a Circadian Role in Network Synchrony 08/07/2020

Shan et al. generate a Cre-inducible mouse reporter with green and red luciferases fused to PER2, enabling cell-specific circadian measurements with a dual-color imaging device. Using genetically directed bioluminescence from AVP or VIP neurons in the SCN circadian pacemaker, they unravel distinct functions of the circadian clock in these neuronal subtypes.

An Integrated Index: Engrams, Place Cells, and Hippocampal Memory 08/06/2020

Goode et al. interpret recent work on hippocampal anatomy, physiology, and behavior through the lens of the hippocampal indexing theory, suggesting that hippocampal engrams may serve as a memory index to permit flexible reinstatement of previous experience.

Selective Routing of Spatial Information Flow from Input to Output in Hippocampal Granule Cells 08/06/2020

Zhang et al. simultaneously measure subthreshold EPSP and suprathreshold AP activity in morphologically identified dentate gyrus GCs in mice during spatial navigation, using intracellular patch-clamp recording. Although only a minor fraction of GCs shows spatially tuned spiking, a major fraction receives spatially tuned synaptic input. Intrinsic excitability controls input-output conversion.

Selective Mesoaccumbal Pathway Inactivation Affects Motivation but Not Reinforcement-Based Learning in Macaques 08/05/2020

Vancraeyenest et al. reversibly inactivated the pathway from the VTA to the NAc using a double-infection viral vector approach in macaques. This mainly affected dopaminergic projections and resulted in increased functional connectivity, especially pronounced in fronto-temporal circuits. Surprisingly, reinforcement-based learning remained unaffected, contrary to motivational behavior requiring high effort.