Data from: Inhibition of the dorsomedial striatal direct pathway is essential for the execution of action sequences

Contrary to the previous notion that the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) is
crucial for acquiring new learning, accumulated evidence has suggested
that the DMS also plays a role in the execution of already learned action
sequences. Here, we examined how the direct and indirect pathways in the
DMS regulate action sequences using a task that requires animals to press
a lever consecutively. Cell-type-specific bulk Ca2+ recording revealed
that the direct pathway was inhibited at the time of sequence execution.
The sequence-related response was blunted in trials where the sequential
behaviors were disrupted. Optogenetic activation at the sequence start
caused distraction of action sequences without affecting motor function or
memory of the task structure. By contrast with the direct pathway, the
indirect pathway was slightly activated at the start of the sequence, but
the optogenetic suppression of such sequence-related signaling did not
impact the behaviors. These results suggest that the inhibition of the DMS
direct pathway promotes sequence execution potentially by suppressing the
formation of a new association.