Description:

Harry Xenias PhD, Research Assistant Professor
Chan Lab
Department of Neuroscience

Abstract:

The globus pallidus external segment (GPe) forms part of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loop of the basal ganglia. Traditionally the GPe was believed to be a one-way downstream homogenous neural relay targeted by indirect pathway striatal projection neurons. This view however has been overturned with the discovery of a pallidostriatal projection. We have shown that the transcription factor Npas1 is a unique marker for a neuron class distinct from the parvalbumin-positive GPe neurons, which project to downstream targets. We show that the Npas1+ GPe neurons broadly innervate the striatum and form a reciprocal loop. Here I will discuss the modulatory function of this pallidostriatal circuit and its implications.