细胞类型特异的皮层-皮层下脑回路可调控探究和求新行为，这一成果由荷兰神经科学研究所J. Alexander Heimel、Mehran Ahmadlou课题组经过不懈努力而取得。相关论文发表在2021年5月14日出版的《科学》杂志上。

研究人员在小鼠中发现，内侧下丘脑区域不透明带（ZIm）中的抑制神经元对于决定研究对象或同种异体至关重要。这些神经元从前肢皮层接受兴奋性信号的输入，以发出探索信号。该信号在ZIm中受到调查动机水平的调控。ZIm活性增加通过抑制导水管周围灰质区域而引发深入的研究活动。表达速激肽1（TAC1）的抑制性ZIm神经元亚群可调控研究行为。

据悉，探索自然和社会环境对于了解周围世界至关重要。但尚不知道寻求新颖性的动机是如何引发调查等一系列复杂行为的。

附：英文原文

Title: A cell type–specific cortico-subcortical brain circuit for investigatory and novelty-seeking behavior

Author: Mehran Ahmadlou, Janou H. W. Houba, Jacqueline F. M. van Vierbergen, Maria Giannouli, Geoffrey-Alexander Gimenez, Christiaan van Weeghel, Maryam Darbanfouladi, Maryam Yasamin Shirazi, Julia Dziubek, Mejdy Kacem, Fred de Winter, J. Alexander Heimel

Issue&Volume: 2021/05/14

Abstract: Exploring the physical and social environment is essential for understanding the surrounding world. We do not know how novelty-seeking motivation initiates the complex sequence of actions that make up investigatory behavior. We found in mice that inhibitory neurons in the medial zona incerta (ZIm), a subthalamic brain region, are essential for the decision to investigate an object or a conspecific. These neurons receive excitatory input from the prelimbic cortex to signal the initiation of exploration. This signal is modulated in the ZIm by the level of investigatory motivation. Increased activity in the ZIm instigates deep investigative action by inhibiting the periaqueductal gray region. A subpopulation of inhibitory ZIm neurons expressing tachykinin 1 (TAC1) modulates the investigatory behavior.

DOI: 10.1126/science.abe9681

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6543/eabe9681