Lele Cui

All Publications

• Causal contributions of cell-type-specific circuits in the posterior dorsal striatum to auditory decision-making. Cell reports Cui, L., Tang, S., Pan, J., Deng, L., Zhang, Z., Zhao, K., Si, B., Xu, N. L. 2025; 44 (1): 115084

  Abstract

  In the dorsal striatum (DS), the direct- and indirect-pathway striatal projection neurons (dSPNs and iSPNs) play crucial opposing roles in controlling actions. However, it remains unclear whether and how dSPNs and iSPNs provide distinct and specific contributions to decision-making, a process transforming sensory inputs to actions. Here, we perform causal interrogations on the roles of dSPNs and iSPNs in the posterior DS (pDS) in auditory-guided decision-making. Unilateral activation of dSPNs or iSPNs produces strong opposite drives to choice behaviors regardless of task difficulty. However, inactivation of dSPNs or iSPNs leads to pronounced choice bias preferentially in difficult trials, suggesting decision-specific contributions. Indeed, temporally specific iSPN activation within, but not outside, the decision period significantly biased choices. Finally, concurrent disinhibition of both pathways via inactivating parvalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons leads to contralateral bias primarily in difficult trials. These results reveal specific contributions by coordinated dSPN and iSPN activity to decision-making processes.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115084

  View details for PubMedID 39709603

• Dynamic ensemble balance in direct- and indirect-pathway striatal projection neurons underlying decision-related action selection. Cell reports Tang, S., Cui, L., Pan, J., Xu, N. L. 2024; 43 (9): 114726

  Abstract

  The posterior dorsal striatum (pDS) plays an essential role in sensory-guided decision-making. However, it remains unclear how the antagonizing direct- and indirect-pathway striatal projection neurons (dSPNs and iSPNs) work in concert to support action selection. Here, we employed deep-brain two-photon imaging to investigate pathway-specific single-neuron and population representations during an auditory-guided decision-making task. We found that the majority of pDS projection neurons predominantly encode choice information. Both dSPNs and iSPNs comprise divergent subpopulations of comparable sizes representing competing choices, rendering a multi-ensemble balance between the two pathways. Intriguingly, such ensemble balance displays a dynamic shift during the decision period: dSPNs show a significantly stronger preference for the contraversive choice than iSPNs. This dynamic shift is further manifested in the inter-neuronal coactivity and population trajectory divergence. Our results support a balance-shift model as a neuronal population mechanism coordinating the direct and indirect striatal pathways for eliciting selected actions during decision-making.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114726

  View details for PubMedID 39276352