A Computational Model of Neural Synchronization in Striatum

Abstract

The role of basal ganglia circuits in voluntary motor movements has been known for decades, but its role in cognitive processes, especially in emotion-based action selection, has drawn recent attention. As more is discovered about the role of basal ganglia circuits in reward based learning for decision-making, it is increasingly recognized that deficits of this circuit give rise to psychiatric disorders besides neurodegenerative diseases. Striatum, the main input nuclei of basal ganglia, receives inputs not only from cortical areas but also from substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area, which have dopamine neuron populations. Thus, the function of striatum, modulated by dopamine, has an important role in the motor and cognitive processes in which basal ganglia circuits are active. Here, a neurocomputational model will be given for investigating the role of dopamine level on the synchronized behavior of striatal medium spiny neurons.