Hierarchical cross-scale analysis identifies parallel ventral striatal networks coding for dynamic and stabilized olfactory reward predictions

SUMMARYThe unbiased identification of brain circuits responsible for behavior and their local cellular computations is a challenge for neuroscience. We establish here a hierarchical cross-scale approach from behavioral modeling and fMRI in task-performing mice to cellular network dynamics to identify how reward predictions are represented in the forebrain upon olfactory conditioning. fMRI identified functional segregation in reward prediction and error computations among olfactory cortices and subcortical circuits. Among them, the olfactory tubercle contributed both to dynamic reward predictions and prediction error. In this region, cellular recordings revealed two parallel neuronal populat…