Ventral Striatum Modifies the Activity of Basal Ganglia Circuit: A Computational Model

Abstract

Abstract The activity of the brain is multi-scale in time and space, and there are enormous data collected related to activities at all levels. To reveal the knowledge hidden in these data, computational models are convenient tools. So, to have a better understanding of the evidences assembled through the experimental work carried out at different levels and scales on striatum, we focused on obtaining a computational model encompassing the role of ventral and dorsal striatum in basal ganglia circuit. Beginning from the single neuron behaviors and synaptic currents, concluding with the interactions between the nuclei of the basal ganglia circuit, at each level we showed that our model is in harmony with the data. We demonstrated the cascading neuronal activity within the basal ganglia circuit under different stimuli conditions. The frequency analysis based on the results of the computational model revealed the beta frequency presence in the deficiency of dopamine. Once, we showed the validity of the proposed computational model, we investigated the effect of ventral striatum on the activity of dorsal striatum further, revealing the modulatory role of ventral striatum. With the proposed model, it is possible to follow the neuronal information transfer between the prefrontal cortex and thalamus, through striatum.