性别依赖性行动调节的神经基础，这一成果由美国普林斯顿大学Ilana B. Witten、Julia Cox研究团队经过不懈努力而取得。2023年1月16日出版的《自然—神经科学》发表了这项成果。

研究人员证明在执行基于价值的决策任务时，虽然不同性别小鼠之间的选择相似，但在雌性小鼠中参与任务的动机比在雄性更强烈地受到行动价值的调节。抑制投射到背侧纹状体（DMS）前扣带皮层（ACC）神经元的活动会优先破坏雌性小鼠中价值与动机之间的决策关系，而不影响选择。与这些效应一致，与雄性相比，雌性的ACC-DMS神经元具有更强的负面结果表示，并且当所选选项的值较低时，更多神经元处于活跃状态。相比之下，每个选择在性别之间是相似的。因此，该研究揭示了价值对不同性别动机调节的神经基础。

据介绍，虽然有越来越多的证据表明决策行为存在性别差异，但在很大程度上这种差异背后的神经基础仍然未知。

附：英文原文

Title: A neural substrate of sex-dependent modulation of motivation

Author: Cox, Julia, Minerva, Adelaide R., Fleming, Weston T., Zimmerman, Christopher A., Hayes, Cameron, Zorowitz, Samuel, Bandi, Akhil, Ornelas, Sharon, McMannon, Brenna, Parker, Nathan F., Witten, Ilana B.

Issue&Volume: 2023-01-16

Abstract: While there is emerging evidence of sex differences in decision-making behavior, the neural substrates that underlie such differences remain largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that in mice performing a value-based decision-making task, while choices are similar between the sexes, motivation to engage in the task is modulated by action value more strongly in females than in males. Inhibition of activity in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neurons that project to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) preferentially disrupts this relationship between value and motivation in females, without affecting choice in either sex. In line with these effects, in females compared to males, ACC–DMS neurons have stronger representations of negative outcomes and more neurons are active when the value of the chosen option is low. By contrast, the representation of each choice is similar between the sexes. Thus, we identify a neural substrate that contributes to sex-specific modulation of motivation by value.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01229-9

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-022-01229-9