Reward and aversion processing by input-defined parallel nucleus accumbens circuits in mice

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is involved in mediating reward seeking and negative valence. Here, the authors present evidence for afferent-specific circuitry of the NAc in the control of reward and aversion via two distinct pathway. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is critical in mediating reward seeking and is also involved in negative emotion processing, but the cellular and circuitry mechanisms underlying such opposing behaviors remain elusive. Here, using the recently developed AAV1-mediated anterograde transsynaptic tagging technique in mice, we show that NAc neurons receiving basolateral amygdala inputs (NAcBLA) promote positive reinforcement via disinhibiting dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In contrast, NAc neurons receiving paraventricular thalamic inputs (NAcPVT) innervate GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and mediate aversion. Silencing the synaptic output of NAcBLA neurons impairs reward seeking behavior, while silencing of NAcPVT or NAcPVT -> LH pathway abolishes aversive symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Our results elucidate the afferent-specific circuit architecture of the NAc in controlling reward and aversion.

Automated summary

This study investigates the afferent-specific circuitry of NAc and its role in controlling reward and aversion. The authors present evidence for two distinct pathways in the NAc that mediate positive reinforcement and aversion, respectively.