| First Author | Tanigami H | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Neuroscience | Volume | 421 |
| Pages | 1-16 | PubMed ID | 31682822 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:285565 | Mgi Id | MGI:6391763 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.040 | Citation | Tanigami H, et al. (2019) Endocannabinoid Signaling from 2-Arachidonoylglycerol to CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Facilitates Reward-based Learning of Motor Sequence. Neuroscience 421:1-16 |
| abstractText | The endocannabinoid system modulates synaptic transmission, controls neuronal excitability, and is involved in various brain functions including learning and memory. 2-arachidonoylglycerol, a major endocannabinoid produced by diacylglycerol lipase-alpha (DGLalpha), is released from postsynaptic neurons, retrogradely activates presynaptic CB1 cannabinoid receptors, and induces short-term or long-term synaptic plasticity. To examine whether and how the endocannabinoid system contributes to reward-based learning of a motor sequence, we subjected male CB1-knockout (KO) and DGLalpha-KO mice to three types of operant lever-press tasks. First, we trained mice to press one of three levers labeled A, B, and C for a food reward (one-lever task). Second, we trained mice to press the three levers in the order of A, B, and C (three-lever task). Third, the order of the levers was reversed to C, B, and A (reverse three-lever task). We found that CB1-KO mice and DGLalpha-KO mice exhibited essentially the same deficits in the operant lever-press tasks. In the one-lever task, both strains of knockout mice showed a slower rate of learning to press a lever for food. In the three-lever task, both strains of knockout mice showed a slower rate of learning of the motor sequence. In the reverse three-lever task, both strains of knockout mice needed more lever presses for reversal learning. These results suggest that the endocannabinoid system facilitates reward-based learning of a motor sequence by conferring the flexibility with which animals can switch between strategies. |
