Dissecting Network-Level Consequences of Anhedonia in Reward Approach

Identification and pursuit of available rewards is critical for survival, driving associative learning and modulating adaptive behaviors. A feature of reward anticipation is the ability to track and encode progression toward a reward and modulate goal-directed actions accordingly. While many studies have identified the contribution of individual brain regions to goal-directed behavior, identifying the mechanism by which the brain integrates and organizes this information has not been investigated brain-wide. We used multi-site electrophysiology recordings in mice and advanced computational techniques to identify coordinated activity predictive of progression toward a goal in both space and time. The Goal Progress Network (GPN) exhibits activity correlated with neuronal firing and generalizes across several reward contexts. This network demonstrates immediate utility to assess the effect of chronic stress on goal progress and the alterations in neural activity that may underlie anhedonia, a key symptom of major depressive disorder.