2. Academic Validation
  3. Decoding auditory cognition: Unraveling the corticostriatal-SNr circuit's role in frequency discrimination accuracy

Decoding auditory cognition: Unraveling the corticostriatal-SNr circuit's role in frequency discrimination accuracy

  • iScience. 2025 Nov 22;28(12):114184. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114184.
Zhao-Qun Wang 1,  Peng-Hui Chen 1,  Hui-Zhong Wen 1,  Tian-Tian Luo 1,  Yun-Xiao Lou 1,  Yan-Dong Zhao 1,  Tong Zhu 2,  Guang-Yan Wu 2,  Ying Xiong 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 2 Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
PMID: 41438078 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114184
Abstract

The anterior auditory field (AAF) is critical for auditory discrimination, though underlying neural pathways remain unclear. Using viral tracing, optogenetics/pharmacogenetics, and behavior, we investigated the corticostriatal-substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) circuit's role in frequency discrimination. AAF excitatory neurons, synapsing on caudate putamen (CPu) GABAergic neurons, were highly active during tasks. Pharmacogenetic suppression of AAF→CPuGABA projections impaired discrimination performance. We further identified an AAF→CPu D1-medium spiny neuron (MSN) pathway regulating discrimination; its pharmacogenetic/optogenetic inhibition caused deficits. Histology confirmed CPuD1→SNr projections. Critically, suppressing/ablating AAF→CPu→SNr circuit neurons severely disrupted accuracy. Fiber photometry revealed SNrGABA neuron activation during tasks. Together, AAF→CPuD1 projections and the AAF→CPu→SNr circuit are pivotal for frequency discrimination, advancing mechanistic insights into auditory processing circuits.

Keywords

Cognitive neuroscience; Sensory neuroscience.

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