Cerebellar contributions to a brainwide network for flexible behavior

Publication Year
2022

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

The cerebellum regulates nonmotor behavior, but the routes by which it exerts its influence are not well characterized. Here we report a necessary role for posterior cerebellum in guiding flexible behavior, acting through a network of diencephalic and neocortical structures. After chemogenetic inhibition of Purkinje cells in lobule VI or crus I, high-throughput automated analysis of complex whole-body movement revealed deficiencies in across-day adaptation to an open field environment. Neither perturbation affected gait, within-day open-field adaptation, or location preference. Mice could learn a water Y-maze task but were impaired in their ability to reverse their initial choice. To map targets of perturbation, we imaged c-Fos activation in cleared whole brains using light-sheet microscopy. Reversal learning activated diencephalic regions and associative neocortical regions. Distinctive subsets of structures were altered by perturbation of lobule VI (thalamus and habenula) and crus I (hypothalamus and prelimbic/orbital cortex), and both perturbations influenced anterior cingulate and infralimbic cortex. Taken together, these experiments reveal parts of a brainwide system for cerebellar influence to guide flexible learning.

Journal
bioRxiv
Date Published
07/2022