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The nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) plays an important role in reward and aversion. Traditionally, NAc dopamine receptor 2-expressing (D2) neurons are assumed to function in aversion. However, this has been challenged by recent reports which attribute positive motivational roles to D2 neurons. Using optogenetics and multiple behavioral tasks, we found that activation of D2 neurons in the dorsomedial NAcSh drives preference and increases the motivation for rewards, whereas activation of ventral NAcSh D2 neurons induces aversion. Stimulation of D2 neurons in the ventromedial NAcSh increases movement speed and stimulation of D2 neurons in the ventrolateral NAcSh decreases movement speed. Combining retrograde tracing and in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the ventral pallidum receive inputs differentially from the dorsomedial and ventral NAcSh. All together, these findings shed light on the controversy regarding the function of NAcSh D2 neurons, and provide new insights into understanding the heterogeneity of the NAcSh.

Figure 1. VGAT and VGLUT2 neurons in the VP receive different inputs from different subregions of the NAcSh

In this study, the authors hypothesized that D2 neurons in different NAcSh subregions are separately involved in the neural circuits of reward and aversion by innervating different VP subpopulations. Determining the heterogeneity of NAcSh D2 neurons and the functions of their projections to the VP would be an important step towards clarifying the controversy over the function of NAc D2 neurons.
 

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