The strength of cortical connectivity to the striatum influences the balance between behavioral variability and stability. Learning to consistently produce a skilled action requires plasticity in corticostriatal connectivity associated with repeated training of the action. However, it remains unknown whether such corticostriatal plasticity occurs during training itself or 'offline' during time away from training, such as sleep. Here, we monitor the corticostriatal network throughout long-term skill learning in rats and find that non-REM (NREM) sleep is a relevant period for corticostriatal plasticity. We first show that the offline activation of striatal NMDA receptors is required for skill learning. We then show that corticostriatal functional connectivity increases offline, coupled to emerging consistent skilled movements and coupled cross-area neural dynamics. We then identify NREM sleep spindles as uniquely poised to mediate corticostriatal plasticity, through interactions with slow oscillations. Our results provide evidence that sleep shapes cross-area coupling required for skill learning.

中文翻译：

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通过长期的技能学习，运动皮层和纹状体之间的耦合在睡眠期间增强


皮质与纹状体的连接强度影响行为变异性和稳定性之间的平衡。学习持续地做出熟练的动作需要与动作的重复训练相关的皮质纹状体连接的可塑性。然而，目前尚不清楚这种皮质纹状体可塑性是在训练期间发生还是在训练之外的时间（例如睡眠）期间“离线”发生。在这里，我们在大鼠的长期技能学习过程中监测皮质纹状体网络，发现非快速眼动（NREM）睡眠是皮质纹状体可塑性的相关时期。我们首先表明纹状体 NMDA 受体的离线激活是技能学习所必需的。然后，我们表明，皮质纹状体功能连接线下增加，再加上新兴的一致的熟练运动和跨区域神经动力学。然后，我们发现 NREM 睡眠纺锤波通过与缓慢振荡的相互作用来独特地介导皮质纹状体可塑性。我们的结果提供了证据，表明睡眠塑造了技能学习所需的跨区域耦合。