Ashley Opalka

A Distinct Down-to-Up Transition Assembly in the Retrosplenial Cortex during Slow-Wave Sleep Ashley N. Opalka, Kimberly J. Dougherty, Dong V. Wang Journal of Neuroscience 2 April 2025, 45 (14) e1484242025; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1484-24.2025

Abstract Understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying slow-wave sleep (SWS) is crucial for deciphering the brain's role in memory consolidation and cognitive functions. It is well-established that cortical delta oscillations (0.5–4 Hz) coordinate communications among cortical, hippocampal, and thalamic regions during SWS.

Abstract Environmental changes necessitate adaptive responses, and thus the ability to monitor one's actions and their connection to specific cues and outcomes is crucial for survival. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is implicated in these processes, yet its precise role in action monitoring and outcome evaluation remains unclear. To investigate this, we developed a novel discrimination-avoidance task for mice, designed with clear temporal separation between actions and outcomes.