Highlights d The BLA encodes predictive learning and produces DOPR accumulation on NAc-S CINs d The BLA mediates DOPR accumulation via substance P release from D1-SPNs in the NAc-S d DOPR accumulation reveals the effect of predictive learning on choice between actions d DOPR accumulation on NAc-S CINs represents a novel form of memory

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Akt protein family (Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3) of serine/threonine kinases, also known as protein kinase B, are enzymes implicated in many physiological and pathological processes in the central nervous system. A striking feature of these enzymes is their ability to interact with several molecular targets such as the glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). Among Akt isoforms, the Akt3 is significantly more expressed in the brain and the present investigation was designed to determine whether the Akt3/GSK-3 pathway plays a role in the learning of a complex motor skill. Using the accelerating rotarod task, known to reproduce different motor learning phases, we demonstrated in mouse models that genetic deletion of GSK-3α or GSK-3β had no effect on rotarod performances. However, Akt3 deletion robustly compromised rotarod learning when compared with wild-type animals. Biochemical analysis in the striatum revealed modifications in the levels of both phosphorylated GSK-3 and tau in Akt3-deficient mice, which are reminiscent of enhanced GSK-3 activity. In this line, we observed that both biochemical and motor learning impairments were prevented in Akt3-deficent mice by chronic treatments with lithium, a well-known GSK-3 inhibitor. Altogether, our findings raised the interesting possibility that interconnection between Akt3 and GSK-3 kinases is required in the learning of new complex motor tasks.

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