Behavioral and neuronal dynamics in a rat model of obsessive-compulsive disorder

While cognitive and behavioral manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are well known, the neuronal dynamics underlying these symptoms remain poorly understood. Theoretical work suggests that changes in the attractor dynamics of neuronal networks towards increased stability and decreased flexibility might cause behavioral and cognitive symptoms of OCD. We used chronic treatment with the D2 and D3 dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole as a rat model of the disease. In this model, we examined changes in behavioral dynamics and, in a parallel experiment, changes in organization of neuronal activity in the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). At the behavioral level, we observed increased locomotion and repetitive stereotypical trajectories in quinpirole-treated rats, with frequency of repetitions increasing over the course of the session. At the level of neuronal activity, a gradual increase in the firing rate of ACC neurons within a session paralleled the dynamics of behavioral stereotypy after quinpirole treatment. In quinpirole-treated rats, we observed increased stability in the temporal organization of hippocampal neuronal firing, but no increase in the stability of the spatial organization of discharge. The increased stability of hippocampal firing was observed at both the level of single neurons and coordinated activity of neuronal pairs, and was connected to modulation of activity by theta rhythm. Studying neuronal activity changes underlying behavioral and cognitive manifestations of brain disorders is crucial for understanding and treating brain pathologies. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIDynamics of behavior and neuronal activity was characterized in rats after chronic quinpirole treatment, which is considered a model of obsessive-compulsive disorder. C_LIO_LIThe quinpirole treatment led to repetitive stereotypical trajectories, with increasing frequency of repetitions over the course of a session. C_LIO_LIThe quinpirole treatment was associated with more stable theta modulation of single-cell hippocampal firing within experimental sessions. C_LIO_LIQuinpirole increased stability in cell-pair correlations of hippocampal units within and between sessions. C_LIO_LIQuinpirole led to more stable coordination of local field potential activity between the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex at theta frequencies. C_LI