Figure 7. When Vgat::ChR2^SNR→SC stimulation inhibits SC neurons, consummatory behavior is suppressed.

(a-c) 65% (11/17 neurons from 3 mice) of neurons were inhibited during 1 s constant illumination. (a) Average response of all inhibited neurons. (b) Inhibition was transient, and spike rates rebounded immediately after stimulation. (c) Spike density function showing activity of inhibited neurons during stimulation. (d-e) Single unit activity recorded during licking. (d) The neuron is tonically active during licking on baseline trials in which the laser was off. (e) Constant illumination during licking suppresses firing. Waveforms recorded during baseline trials and when the laser was on are shown above the rasters (red lines are median waveforms). Waveform shape is unchanged by laser. (f) This neuron is inhibited by Vgat::ChR2^SNR→SC stimulation (t-test, 10 baseline trials and 26 stimulation trials: t₍₃₄₎ = 3.85, * p = 0.0005). (g) Licking behavior during the trials in a. (h) When the laser is on, the lick rate is suppressed. (i) Lick rate is significantly reduced by Vgat::ChR2 ^SNR→SC stimulation (t-test with Welch's correction for unequal variance, 10 baseline trials and 26 stimulation trials: t₍₃₁₎ = 6.27, ** p = 5.31 × 10⁻⁷). Values are mean ±s.e.m.