Habits are negatively regulated by histone deacetylase 3 in the dorsal striatum

Optimal behavior and decision making result from a balance of control between two strategies, one cognitive/goal-directed and one habitual. These systems are known to rely on the anatomically distinct dorsomedial (DMS) and dorsolateral (DLS) striatum, respectively. But the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms required to learn and transition between these strategies are unknown. Here we examined the role of one chromatin-based transcriptional regulator, histone modification via histone deacetylases (HDACs), in this process.

Source: Biological Psychiatry - February 8, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Melissa Malvaez, Venuz Y. Greenfield, Dina P. Matheos, Nicolas A. Angelillis, Michael D. Murphy, Pamela J. Kennedy, Marcelo A. Wood, Kate. M. Wassum Tags: Archival Report Source Type: research