Striatum expresses region-specific plasticity consistent with distinct memory abilities

The striatum mediates two learning modalities: goal-directed behavior in dorsomedial (DMS) and habits in dorsolateral (DLS) striata. The synaptic bases of these learnings are still elusive. Indeed, while ample research has described DLS plasticity, little remains known about DMS plasticity and its involvement in procedural learning. Here, we find symmetric and asymmetric anti-Hebbian spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) in DMS and DLS, respectively, with opposite plasticity dominance upon increasing corticostriatal activity. During motor-skill learning, plasticity is engaged in DMS and striatonigral DLS neurons only during early learning stages, whereas striatopallidal DLS neurons are mobilized only during late phases. With a mathematical modeling approach, we find that symmetric anti-Hebbian STDP favors memory flexibility, while asymmetric anti-Hebbian STDP favors memory maintenance, consistent with memory processes at play in procedural learning. [Display omitted] •Opposite plasticity in DMS and DLS dominate with increased corticostriatal activity•DMS expresses symmetric and DLS asymmetric anti-Hebbian corticostriatal STDP•Distinct anti-Hebbian STDP theoretically favors memory flexibility or maintenance•Early versus late phase of motor skill learning involves region- and input-specific STDP Perez et al. show that medium spiny neurons in the dorsal striatum exhibit opposite forms of plasticity, which are region (dorsolateral versus dorsomedial)- and input (stritonigral versus striatopallidal)-specific and that reflect memory flexibility or memory maintenance, consistent with memory processes at play in procedural learning.