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Reward processing by the lateral habenula in normal and depressive behaviors

Nature Neuroscience volume 17, pages 1146–1152 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

The brain reward circuit has a central role in reinforcing behaviors that are rewarding and preventing behaviors that lead to punishment. Recent work has shown that the lateral habenula is an important part of the reward circuit by providing 'negative value' signals to the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. Studies have also suggested that dysfunction of the lateral habenula is associated with psychiatric disorders, including major depression. Here, we discuss insights gained from neuronal recordings in monkeys regarding how the lateral habenula processes reward-related information. We then highlight recent optogenetic experiments in rodents addressing normal and abnormal functions of the habenula. Finally, we discuss how deregulation of the lateral habenula may be involved in depressive behaviors.

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Figure 1: Inhibitory effects originating from the LHb create functional heterogeneity among DA neurons.
Figure 2: Both LHb and MHb control the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems.
Figure 3: Potential hyperactive synapses in human depression.
Figure 4: Transgenic Cre-driver mouse lines from GENSAT that permit targeting of different neuronal ensemble in the LHb and MHb.

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Acknowledgements

C.D.P. received support from the Institutions de Recherche en Santé du Canada and a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (21367). O.H. received support by the Intramural Research Program at the US National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute (EY000415-09), and R.M. received support from the US National Institutes of Health (R01MH091119).

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  1. Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Section of Neurobiology, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

    Christophe D Proulx & Roberto Malinow

  2. Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Okihide Hikosaka

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Proulx, C., Hikosaka, O. & Malinow, R. Reward processing by the lateral habenula in normal and depressive behaviors. Nat Neurosci 17, 1146–1152 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3779

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