Fig. 4

Responses of the BOLD signals following the chemogenetic activation of VTA CamKIIα-positive neurons with the injection of CNO. A The Global BOLD signal response, multiple brain regions show significant BOLD signal changes, including the VTA, mPFC, Cg, septum, Hipp, right insula, right TH, right MC, right PtA and right ViC. N = 4. Threshold: FDR, p < 0.05; B changes of BOLD signal in the virus infected region (VTA) during chemogenetics activated the CamKII-positive neurons in VTA; red arrow indicates the injection period of CNO (blue line) or saline (red line); C–K BOLD signal changes in the regions of Insula (C), mPFC (D), MC_R (right MC, E), Cg (F), Septum (G), Hipp (H), TH_R (right TH, I), PtA_R (right PtA, J) and Vic_R (right Vic, K), red arrow indicates the timepoint of CNO injection; L comparison matrix of the BOLD signal increased in the VTA, Insula, mPFC, right MC, Cg, Septum, Hipp, right TH, right PtA and right ViC. The increase values of BOLD signals in the activated brain regions were calculated and compared pairwise. The colors of dots indicate p-value. Two-tailed t-test; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01