Striatal cholinergic receptor activation causes a rapid, selective and state-dependent rise in cortico-striatal ß activity.

ABSTRACT

Cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic (CBT) ß oscillations (15-30 Hz) are elevated in Parkinson's disease and correlated with movement disability. To date, no experimental paradigm outside of loss of dopamine has been able to specifically elevate ß oscillations in the CBT loop. Here, we show that activation of striatal cholinergic receptors selectively increased ß oscillations in mouse striatum and motor cortex. In individuals showing simultaneous ß increases in both striatum and M1, ß partial directed coherence (PDC) increased from striatum to M1 (but not in the reverse direction). In individuals that did not show simultaneous ß increases, ß PDC increased from M1 to striatum (but not in the reverse direction), and M1 was characterized by persistent ß-high frequency oscillation phase-amplitude coupling. Finally, the direction of ß PDC distinguished between ß sub-bands. This suggests that (1) striatal cholinergic tone exerts state-dependent and frequency-selective control over CBT ß power and coordination; (2) ongoing rhythmic dynamics can determine whether elevated ß oscillations are expressed in striatum and M1; and (3) altered striatal cholinergic tone differentially modulates distinct ß sub-bands.