Nature Research, Nature Neuroscience, 11(10), p. 1395-1397, 2007
DOI: 10.1038/nn1987
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Instrumental conditioning allows animals to learn about the consequences of their own actions, but the underpinning molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here we show that the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor Gpr6 is selectively expressed in the striatopallidal neurons in the striatum. Gpr6-deficient mice showed reduced striatal cyclic AMP production in vitro and selective alterations in instrumental conditioning in vivo. Thus, Gpr6 is the first striatopallidal neuron-specific genetic regulator of instrumental conditioning in a mammal.