No abstract

Summary It is widely accepted that D1 dopamine receptor-expressing striatal neurons convey their information directly to the output nuclei of the basal ganglia while D2-expressing neurons do so indirectly via pallidal neurons. Combining optogenetics and electrophysiology we show that this architecture does not apply to mouse nucleus accumbens projections to the ventral pallidum. Thus, current thinking attributing D1/D2 selectivity to accumbens projections akin to dorsal striatal pathways needs to be reconsidered.