SummaryThe basal ganglia, and the striatum in particular, are critical for action reinforcement 1, 2. The dorsal striatum, which can be further subdivided into dorsomedial (DMS) and dorsolateral (DLS) striatum, is mainly composed of two subpopulations of striatal medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs): dopamine D1 receptor-expressing MSNs that constitute the striatonigral or direct pathway (dMSNs); and dopamine D2 receptor-expressing MSNs that constitute the striatopallidal or indirect pathway (iMSNs) [3]. It has been suggested that each pathway has opposing roles in reinforcement, with dMSNs being important to learn positive reinforcement and iMSNs to learn to avoid undesired actions (Go/No-Go) [1]. Furthermore, optogenetic self-stimulation of dMSNs in DMS leads to reinforcement of actions, while self-stimulation of iMSNs leads to avoidance of actions [2]. However, in DLS, which has been implicated in the consolidation of well-trained actions and habits in mice 4, 5, both pathways are active during lever-pressing for reward [6]. Furthermore, extensive skill training leads to long-lasting potentiation of glutamatergic inputs into both dMSNs and iMSNs [4]. We report here that, in DLS, both dMSNs and iMSNs are involved in positive reinforcement, but support different action strategies.

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Exploration of novel environments ensures survival and evolutionary fitness. This behavior is expressed through exploratory bouts and arrests, which change dynamically based on experience. Neural circuits mediating exploratory behavior should therefore integrate experience and use it to select the proper behavioral output. Using a spatial exploration assay, we uncovered an experience-dependent increase of momentary arrests in visited locations where animals previously arrested. Quantitative analyses of neuronal calcium activity in freely-exploring mice revealed that a large neuronal ensemble in basolateral amygdala is active during self-paced behavioral arrests. This ensemble was recruited in an experience-dependent manner, and closedloop optogenetic manipulation of these neurons revealed that they are sufficient and necessary to drive experience-dependent arrests. Additionally, we found that neurons in the basolateral amygdala projecting to central amygdala mediate these momentary arrests. These findings uncover an amygdala circuit that mediates momentary exploratory arrests in familiar places, without changing place preference or anxiety/fear-like behaviors.