DOI: 10.7272/q68p5xst
title: Cholinergic interneurons and dopamine in the nucleus accumbens

description: Motivation to work for potential rewards is critically dependent on
 dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). DA release from NAc axons
 can be controlled by at least two distinct mechanisms: 1) action
 potentials propagating from DA cell bodies in the ventral tegmental area
 (VTA), and 2) activation of β2* nicotinic receptors by local cholinergic
 interneurons (CINs). How CIN activity contributes to NAc DA dynamics in
 behaving animals remains unclear. We monitored DA release in the NAc Core
 of awake, unrestrained rats while simultaneously monitoring or
 manipulating CIN activity at the same location. CIN stimulation rapidly
 evoked DA release, and in contrast to slice preparations, this DA release
 showed no indication of short-term depression or receptor desensitization.
 The sound of food delivery evoked a brief joint increase in CIN population
 activity and DA release, with a second joint increase as rats approached
 the food. In an operant task, we observed fast ramps in CIN activity
 during approach behaviors, either to start the trial or to collect
 rewards. These CIN ramps co-occurred with DA release ramps, without
 corresponding changes in the firing of VTA DA neurons. Finally, we
 examined the effects of blocking CIN influence over DA release through
 local NAc infusion of DHβE, a selective antagonist
 of  nicotinic receptors. DHβE dose-dependently
 interfered with motivated approach decisions, mimicking the effects of a
 DA antagonist. Our results support a key influence of CINs over motivated
 behavior via the local regulation of DA release.
description: Refer to the methods section of Mohebi et al, eLife, 2023
description: MATLAB
description: # Accumbens cholinergic interneurons dynamically promote dopamine release
 and enable motivation \-\-\- This readme file provides instructions on
 reproducing the results presented in the research article titled
 "Accumbens cholinergic interneurons dynamically promote dopamine
 release and enable motivation\," published by Mohebi et al\. in
 eLife\, 2023\. The article can be accessed at
 https://elifesciences\.org/articles/85011\. ## Description of the data and
 file structure The dataset included in this repository follows the
 standard format used by the Berke lab. It contains the necessary files and
 data required to replicate the experiments and findings described in the
 research article. Additionally, we have provided MATLAB code that can be
 utilized to read and interpret the data, as well as generate figures
 related to our results. The dataset consists of four \*.zip files
 corresponding to four figures in the paper. Each zip file contains MATLAB
 scripts and data files required to reproduce the graphs in each figure.
 Following is the description for each data file. ## Fig\_1.zip ###
 Fig1\_Data.mat: Contains data from n=4 experiments described in Fig1 with
 the following fields. Use Fig1d.m, Fig1e.m scripts to reproduce Fig1a-e.
 Fs: Sampling Frequency (Hz) boxts: timestamp of laser onset (s) stimData:
 width: laser pulse width (ms) interpulse: interpulse interval (ms) count:
 Number of pulses in each trial Repeat: Number of trials of each type ISI:
 interstimulus interval (ms) sig: photometry signal, sampled at Fs ref:
 control photometry signal. Sampled at Fs ### Fig1F\_Data.mat: Use Fig1f.m
 script to reproduce the graph in Fig1f. response: average photometry trace
 x\_axis: time(s) ## Fig\_2.zip ### Fig2\_Data.mat: Contains data from n=5
 experiments described in Fig2 with the following fields. Use Fig2.m script
 to reproduce the graphs in Fig2. Fs: Sampling Frequency (Hz) ACh:
 Acetylcholine signal DA: Dopamine signal boxts: timestamp for events
 FoodLine: Food port occupancy ratConditioning: Conditioning task
 parameters ## Fig\_3.zip ### Fig3\_Data.mat: Contains data from n=5
 experiments described in Fig2 with the following fields. Use Fig3.m script
 to reproduce the graph in Fig3. plotSEM.m is a helper script used inside
 the Fig3.m script. Fs: Sampling Frequency (Hz) boxts: timestamp of event
 onset (s) behavData: performance measure in the bandit task sig:
 photometry signal, sampled at Fs ref: control photometry signal. Sampled
 at Fs ## Fig\_4.zip Multiple nested folders. Each folder corresponds to
 one experimental condition, specified in the folder name, and contains
 behavioral reports for each subject. Subjects are named
 IM-1442,...,IM-1447. There are four different conditions as described in
 the paper: baseline, DHBE\_15UG, DHBE\_30UG, VEH. Use Fig4\_Hazard.m
 script to reproduce the results in Fig4. bandit\_performance\_Results.m is
 a helper function. Each behavioral file contains behavioral measurements
 during the bandit task. Each line corresponds to one trial and contains
 the following keys: Subject: Name of the subject Date: Date of the
 experiment Time: Time of the trial Attempt: Attempt number Trial: Trial
 number Food: Binary variable reporting whether a trial was rewarded Block:
 Block number Block trial: Trial number within the block Center: Number of
 the center poke for each trial Port poked: Number of the poked port RT:
 Reaction Time (ms) MT: Movement Time (ms) PreT: Pre Tone period (ms)
 ResponseLimit: Response limit time (ms) TrPerBlock: maximum number of
 trials per block FalseStart: Number of false starts WrongStart: Number of
 failed starts FailureToRespond: Number of failures to start a trial Prob
 Left: Probability of reward on the left side Prob Right: Probability of
 reward on the right side Target Poke: Poked port CNI Latency: Latency to
 initiate the task (ms) SI Duration: Side-in duration (ms) ITI: Intertrial
 Interval (ms) TTR: Time to Reward (ms) Session Type: Type of the session
 (string, note) Number of pulses: Number of laser pulses Pulse width: Width
 of laser pulse Amplitude: Amplitude of the laser pulse Laser Active:
 Binary variable representing whether a trial was rewarded. ##
 Sharing/Access information: For further details and access to the dataset,
 please refer to the Dryad Digital Repository, where Mohebi, Collins, and
 Berke have made their data available under the following citation: Mohebi
 A, Collins VL, Berke JD (2022) Cholinergic Interneurons and Dopamine in
 the Nucleus Accumbens. Dryad Digital Repository, doi:10.7272/Q68P5XST. The
 dataset can be accessed at https://dx.doi.org/10.7272/Q68P5XST. Please
 follow the instructions below to replicate the results and findings of the
 study.