A cerebello-olivary signal for negative prediction error is sufficient to cause extinction of associative motor learning

Nat Neurosci. 2020 Dec;23(12):1550-1554. doi: 10.1038/s41593-020-00732-1. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Abstract

The brain generates negative prediction error (NPE) signals to trigger extinction, a type of inhibitory learning that is responsible for suppressing learned behaviors when they are no longer useful. Neurons encoding NPE have been reported in multiple brain regions. Here, we use an optogenetic approach to demonstrate that GABAergic cerebello-olivary neurons can generate a powerful NPE signal, capable of causing extinction of conditioned motor responses on its own.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Association Learning / physiology*
  • Cerebellum / physiology*
  • Extinction, Psychological / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Ocular Physiological Phenomena
  • Olivary Nucleus / physiology*
  • Optogenetics
  • Physical Stimulation
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology

Substances

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid