Journal of psychopharmacology
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J. Psychopharmacol. (Oxford) · Jul 2011
Increased expression of the 5-HT6 receptor by viral mediated gene transfer into posterior but not anterior dorsomedial striatum interferes with acquisition of a discrete action-outcome task.
Serotonin plays a role in reinforcement learning; however, it is not known which serotonin receptors mediate these effects. Serotonin 6 (5-HT(6)) receptors are abundant in the striatum, a brain area that is involved in reinforcement learning. We previously found that 5-HT(6) receptors in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) affect reinforcement learning or consolidation over several days. ⋯ In another group of rats, the task had a lever that was continuously extended but only active every 20 seconds, allowing for repetitive, mostly non-reinforced, lever pressing. Results demonstrate that increased expression of 5-HT(6) receptors in the posterior DMS interferes with earning sucrose pellets in only the former task. We take this to indicate that 5-HT(6) receptor signaling in the posterior DMS interferes with acquisition of discrete action-outcome responding.