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Mediodorsal thalamus and ventral pallidum contribute to subcortical regulation of the default mode network

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Mar 01, 2024 version files 505.21 KB

Abstract

Humans and other animals readily transition from externally to internally focused attention, and these transitions are accompanied by coactivation of a group of brain regions collectively known as the default mode network (DMN). While the DMN was considered a cortical network, recent evidence suggests subcortical structures are part of the DMN. Here we investigated the role of ventral pallidum (VP) and mediodorsal thalamus (MD) in DMN regulation in the tree shrew, a close relative of primates. We combine electrophysiology and deep learning-based motion tracking to perform unsupervised classification of behavioral states. We found gamma oscillations in VP and MD coordinated with gamma in the anterior cingulate (AC) cortex specifically during DMN states. Similar enhancements were found for high gamma, but only at subcortical sites. Cross-frequency coupling between gamma and delta oscillations were higher during DMN than other behaviors, underscoring the engagement of MD, VP, and AC circuits. Our findings highlight the importance of VP in DMN regulation in the tree shrew, consistent with rodent studies, and demonstrate a role for MD thalamus in DMN regulation. Our results extend homologies in DMN regulation among mammals, and underline the importance of thalamus and basal forebrain to the regulation of DMN brain states.