Local D2- to D1-neuron transmodulation updates goal-directed learning in the striatum.

Abstract

Extinction learning allows animals to withhold voluntary actions that are no longer related to reward and so provides a major source of behavioral control. Although such learning is thought to depend on dopamine signals in the striatum, the way the circuits that mediate goal-directed control are reorganized during new learning remains unknown. Here, by mapping a dopamine-dependent transcriptional activation marker in large ensembles of spiny projection neurons (SPNs) expressing dopamine receptor type 1 (D1-SPNs) or 2 (D2-SPNs) in mice, we demonstrate an extensive and dynamic D2- to D1-SPN transmodulation across the striatum that is necessary for updating previous goal-directed learning. Our findings suggest that D2-SPNs suppress the influence of outdated D1-SPN plasticity within functionally relevant striatal territories to reshape volitional action.