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PreprintCC BYbioRxiv

Spatially confined dopamine from locus coeruleus axons selectively shapes hippocampal dynamics and action timing

  • D. Luo
  • J. Cao
  • R. Heldman
  • L. Tian
  • Y. Wang1
  1. 1Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
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Abstract

Neuromodulatory systems project broadly, yet computations engage specific neuronal populations. Whether neuromodulation can selectively influence task-engaged neurons remains unclear. During goal-directed navigation, neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC), the brain's principal norepinephrine source, responded at navigation onset. Concurrently, dopamine transients arose in micrometer-scale domains around LC axons in CA1. These transients preferentially enhanced nearby CA1 neurons with ramping dynamics, whose higher activity predicted later reward-anticipatory action. Brief LC activation evoked local dopamine, enhanced ramping dynamics, and delayed action initiation seconds later. Blocking D1-like, but not adrenergic, receptors weakened ramping dynamics and impaired reward anticipation. Modeling showed that selectivity can emerge when localized dopamine coincides with strong ongoing neuronal activity, without dedicated wiring. Thus, a widely projecting system can selectively modulate task-engaged neurons and shape behavior.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{luo2026spatially,
  title = {{Spatially confined dopamine from locus coeruleus axons selectively shapes hippocampal dynamics and action timing}},
  author = {D. Luo and J. Cao and R. Heldman and L. Tian and Y. Wang},
  howpublished = {bioRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.64898/2026.09.02.748730},
  url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748730v1},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - Spatially confined dopamine from locus coeruleus axons selectively shapes hippocampal dynamics and action timing
AU  - D. Luo
AU  - J. Cao
AU  - R. Heldman
AU  - L. Tian
AU  - Y. Wang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/02
PB  - bioRxiv
DO  - 10.64898/2026.09.02.748730
UR  - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748730v1
AB  - Neuromodulatory systems project broadly, yet computations engage specific neuronal populations. Whether neuromodulation can selectively influence task-engaged neurons remains unclear. During goal-directed navigation, neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC), the brain's principal norepinephrine source, responded at navigation onset. Concurrently, dopamine transients arose in micrometer-scale domains around LC axons in CA1. These transients preferentially enhanced nearby CA1 neurons with ramping dynamics, whose higher activity predicted later reward-anticipatory action. Brief LC activation evoked local dopamine, enhanced ramping dynamics, and delayed action initiation seconds later. Blocking D1-like, but not adrenergic, receptors weakened ramping dynamics and impaired reward anticipation. Modeling showed that selectivity can emerge when localized dopamine coincides with strong ongoing neuronal activity, without dedicated wiring. Thus, a widely projecting system can selectively modulate task-engaged neurons and shape behavior.
ER  -