Selective inhibition of goal-directed actions in the mesencephalic locomotor region

Dopamine enables purposive behavior and adjusts vigor as a function of the relative value of actions. In Parkinson’s disease, dopamine neurons die and give rise to a series of motor and cognitive changes that interfere with the expression of volitional actions. Here we report a novel inhibitory input to dopamine neurons originated in the mesencephalic locomotor region that selectively blocks purposive behavior. GABAergic neurons of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) synapse onto dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra and decrease dopamine release in the dorsal striatum. Activation of PPN neurons abolished exploratory locomotion and goal-directed actions while preserved other motor behaviors; furthermore, PPN caused a decrease in movement vigor and interrupted motor sequences presumably by modulating the immediate value of the learned action. Our results reveal an inhibitory mechanism in the midbrain that rapidly and reversibly adjusts the intrinsic value of ongoing actions.