Anterior cingulate cross-hemispheric inhibition via the claustrum resolves painful sensory conflict

Keisuke Koga*, Kenta Kobayashi, Makoto Tsuda, Anthony E Pickering, Hidemasa Furue*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

Abstract

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responds to noxious and innocuous sensory inputs, and integrates them to coordinate appropriate behavioral reactions. However, the role of the projections of ACC neurons to subcortical areas and their influence on sensory processing are not fully investigated. Here, we identified that ACC neurons projecting to the contralateral claustrum (ACC→contraCLA) preferentially respond to contralateral mechanical sensory stimulation. These sensory responses were enhanced during attending behavior. Optogenetic activation of ACC→contraCLA neurons silenced pyramidal neurons in the contralateral ACC by recruiting local circuit fast-spiking interneuron activation via an excitatory relay in the CLA. This circuit activation suppressed withdrawal behavior to mechanical stimuli ipsilateral to the ACC→contraCLA neurons. Chemogenetic silencing showed that the cross-hemispheric circuit has an important role in the suppression of contralateral nociceptive behavior during sensory-driven attending behavior. Our findings identify a cross-hemispheric cortical-subcortical-cortical arc allowing the brain to give attentional priority to competing innocuous and noxious inputs.
Original languageEnglish
Article number330
Number of pages15
JournalCommunications Biology
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Mar 2024

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