FIGURE 1.

Optogenetic mouse models enable new ways to test skill learning. (A) Breeding together of payload and driver lines enabled cell-type specific expression of light-sensitive opsins. (B) Water-restricted, head-fixed mice were trained to run left or right on a ball in response to visual cues at the top or bottom (respectively) of a computer screen for a water reward. Brown arrows indicate running direction. (C) Light was delivered through chronically implanted optic fibers to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) or dorsal hippocampus (dHC) at the initiation of 20% of trials (On trials). Suppression of ACC activity reduced accuracy across multiple stages of training. Suppression of dHC more selectively impacted performance late in training (adapted from Weible et al., 2019).