Fig. 3: Neural activity in the mNAc during the operant wheel running task.

A Schematic of the fiber photometry setup. Representative images of AAVdj-hSyn-GCaMP8m injection B and optic fiber implantation C into the mNAc. Numbers indicate approximate anteroposterior distance (mm) from bregma. Scale bar = 500 µm. D Representative GCaMP signals during the operant wheel running task. E Heatmap (top) and averaged GCaMP signals (bottom) around the first nose pokes of one mouse (n = 11 bouts). F Heatmap (top) and averaged GCaMP signals (bottom) around the tenth nose pokes of one mouse (n = 11 bouts). G Heatmap (top) and mean GCaMP signals (bottom) around the first nose pokes (n = 9). H AUC of mean GCaMP signals from −5 s to −3 s and −1 s to 1 s aligned with the first nose pokes in the FR10 schedule (n = 9; **P < 0.01). I Heatmap (top) and mean GCaMP signals (bottom) around the tenth nose pokes (n = 9). J AUC of mean GCaMP signals from −2 s to 0 s and 0 s to 2 s aligned with the tenth nose pokes in the FR10 schedule (n = 9; ***P < 0.001). Mean GCaMP signals and AUC of mean GCaMP signals from −5 s to −3 s and −1 s to 1 s aligned with the onset of climbing on the wheel K, starting to run on the wheel L, stopping running on the wheel M, leaving the wheel N, and AUC of mean GCaMP signals from −2 s to 0 s and 0 s to 2 s aligned with the onset of the wheel locking O from nine mice (n = 9; *P < 0.05, ****P < 0.0001). Vertical dashed lines indicate the onset of the event, and horizontal dashed lines indicate the baseline. Blue and red lines indicate statistically significant decreases and increases from 0, respectively (bootstrap test, higher bound 95% extended bootstrapped CI < 0 and lower bound 95% extended bootstrapped CI > 0, respectively). Data are expressed as means ± SEM.