Optogenetic activation of the ventral tegmental area-hippocampal pathway facilitates rapid adaptation to changes in spatial goals

Animal adaptation to environmental goals to pursue rewards is modulated by dopamine. However, the role of dopamine in the hippocampus, involved in spatial navigation, remains unclear. Here, we studied dopaminergic inputs from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the hippocampus, focusing on spatial goal persistence and adaptation. Mice with VTA dopaminergic lesions struggled to locate and update learned reward locations in a circular maze with dynamic reward locations, emphasizing the importance of VTA dopaminergic neurons in the persistence and adaptation of spatial memory. Further, these deficits were accompanied by motor impairments or motivational loss even when dopamine receptors in the dorsal hippocampus were selectively blocked. Stimulation of VTA dopaminergic axons within the dorsal hippocampus enhanced the mice’s ability to adapt to changing reward locations. These findings provide insights into the contribution of dopaminergic inputs within the hippocampus to spatial goal adaptation. [Display omitted] •VTA-hippocampal dopaminergic pathway enables quick spatial goal shifts•Impaired VTA dopaminergic neurons disrupt spatial reward memory recall•Optogenetic stimulation of the pathway enhances adaptation to new reward locations Biological sciences; Neuroscience; Cognitive neuroscience