Different roles of specific nerve cell pathways from the reward system to movement control in stages of motivated behavior

Activation of D2-MSN-VP projections during reward-predicting cues increases motivation.

• D2-MSNs and their projections to the ventral pallidum are involved in motivated behaviors.
• Different stages of motivation are influenced by the activation of D2-MSN-VP projections.
• Increased motivation occurs when D2-MSN-VP projections are activated during cues predicting rewards.
• Conversely, activating these projections during reward delivery decreases motivation.
• Optical inhibition of D2-MSN-VP projections leads to effects opposite those of activation.
• In a free-choice task, animals show a preference for rewards associated with the inhibition of D2-MSN-VP projections.

Simplified