Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39937645›Full record

ArticleCell reports2025

GABAergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area represent and regulate force vectors.

Qiaochu Jiang, Konstantin I Bakhurin, Ryan N Hughes, Bryan Lu, Shaolin Ruan, Henry H Yin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. A dual-color miniature endoscope for calcium imaging in behaving mice.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Superior Colliculus Projections Drive Dopamine Neuron Activity and Movement But Not Value.The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Qiaochu JiangDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Konstantin I BakhurinDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Ryan N HughesDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Bryan LuDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Shaolin RuanDepartment of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Henry H YinDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA. Electronic address: hy43@duke.edu.

Funding

The Role of Opponent Basal Ganglia Outputs in BehaviorR01NS094754 · NINDS · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI Henry Yin · 2017 to 2026
$3.7M
Dissecting basal ganglia circuit mechanisms underlying instrumental learningR01DA040701 · NIDA · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI Henry Yin · 2016 to 2026
$3.6M
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA040701NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS094754
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The ventral tegmental area (VTA), a midbrain region associated with motivated behaviors, contains mostly dopaminergic (DA) neurons and GABAergic (GABA) neurons. Previous work has suggested that VTA GABA neurons provide a reward prediction signal, which is used in computing a reward prediction error. In this study, by using in vivo electrophysiology and continuous quantification of force exertion in head-fixed mice, we identify distinct populations of VTA GABA neurons that exhibit precise force tuning independently of learning, reward prediction, and outcome valence. Their activity usually precedes force exertion, and selective optogenetic manipulations of these neurons systematically modulate force exertion without influencing reward prediction. Together, these findings show that VTA GABA neurons can continuously regulate force vectors during motivated behavior.

Indexed as

GABAergic NeuronsVentral Tegmental AreaAnimalsDopaminergic NeuronsMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLOptogeneticsRewardCP: NeuroscienceforceGABAergic neuronsmovementPavlovian conditioningrewardventral tegmental area

Identifiers

PMID39937645
PMCPMC11997961

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.