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Long X, Deng B, Shen R, Yang L, Chen L, Ran Q, Du X, Zhang SJ. Border cells without theta rhythmicity in the medial prefrontal cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321614121. [PMID: 38857401 PMCID: PMC11194599 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321614121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a key brain structure for higher cognitive functions such as decision-making and goal-directed behavior, many of which require awareness of spatial variables including one's current position within the surrounding environment. Although previous studies have reported spatially tuned activities in mPFC during memory-related trajectory, the spatial tuning of mPFC network during freely foraging behavior remains elusive. Here, we reveal geometric border or border-proximal representations from the neural activity of mPFC ensembles during naturally exploring behavior, with both allocentric and egocentric boundary responses. Unlike most of classical border cells in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) discharging along a single wall, a large majority of border cells in mPFC fire particularly along four walls. mPFC border cells generate new firing fields to external insert, and remain stable under darkness, across distinct shapes, and in novel environments. In contrast to hippocampal theta entrainment during spatial working memory tasks, mPFC border cells rarely exhibited theta rhythmicity during spontaneous locomotion behavior. These findings reveal spatially modulated activity in mPFC, supporting local computation for cognitive functions involving spatial context and contributing to a broad spatial tuning property of cortical circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Long
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
| | - Bin Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
| | - Rui Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
| | - Liping Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
| | - Qingxia Ran
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
| | - Xin Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
| | - Sheng-Jia Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400037, China
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2
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Mohapatra AN, Wagner S. The role of the prefrontal cortex in social interactions of animal models and the implications for autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1205199. [PMID: 37409155 PMCID: PMC10318347 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1205199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interaction is a complex behavior which requires the individual to integrate various internal processes, such as social motivation, social recognition, salience, reward, and emotional state, as well as external cues informing the individual of others' behavior, emotional state and social rank. This complex phenotype is susceptible to disruption in humans affected by neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Multiple pieces of convergent evidence collected from studies of humans and rodents suggest that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a pivotal role in social interactions, serving as a hub for motivation, affiliation, empathy, and social hierarchy. Indeed, disruption of the PFC circuitry results in social behavior deficits symptomatic of ASD. Here, we review this evidence and describe various ethologically relevant social behavior tasks which could be employed with rodent models to study the role of the PFC in social interactions. We also discuss the evidence linking the PFC to pathologies associated with ASD. Finally, we address specific questions regarding mechanisms employed by the PFC circuitry that may result in atypical social interactions in rodent models, which future studies should address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Nath Mohapatra
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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3
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Gómez LJ, Dooley JC, Blumberg MS. Activity in developing prefrontal cortex is shaped by sleep and sensory experience. eLife 2023; 12:82103. [PMID: 36745108 PMCID: PMC9901933 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In developing rats, behavioral state exerts a profound modulatory influence on neural activity throughout the sensorimotor system, including primary motor cortex (M1). We hypothesized that similar state-dependent modulation occurs in prefrontal cortical areas with which M1 forms functional connections. Here, using 8- and 12-day-old rats cycling freely between sleep and wake, we record neural activity in M1, secondary motor cortex (M2), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). At both ages in all three areas, neural activity increased during active sleep (AS) compared with wake. Also, regardless of behavioral state, neural activity in all three areas increased during periods when limbs were moving. The movement-related activity in M2 and mPFC, like that in M1, is driven by sensory feedback. Our results, which diverge from those of previous studies using anesthetized pups, demonstrate that AS-dependent modulation and sensory responsivity extend to prefrontal cortex. These findings expand the range of possible factors shaping the activity-dependent development of higher-order cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lex J Gómez
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - James C Dooley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States.,DeLTA Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - Mark S Blumberg
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States.,DeLTA Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States.,Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
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4
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Shing N, Walker MC, Chang P. The Role of Aberrant Neural Oscillations in the Hippocampal-Medial Prefrontal Cortex Circuit in Neurodevelopmental and Neurological Disorders. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 195:107683. [PMID: 36174886 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus (HPC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) have well-established roles in cognition, emotion, and sensory processing. In recent years, interests have shifted towards developing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying interactions between the HPC and mPFC in achieving these functions. Considerable research supports the idea that synchronized activity between the HPC and the mPFC is a general mechanism by which brain functions are regulated. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the hippocampal-medial prefrontal cortex (HPC-mPFC) circuit in normal brain function with a focus on oscillations and highlight several neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders associated with aberrant HPC-mPFC circuitry. We further discuss oscillatory dynamics across the HPC-mPFC circuit as potentially useful biomarkers to assess interventions for neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. Finally, advancements in brain stimulation, gene therapy and pharmacotherapy are explored as promising therapies for disorders with aberrant HPC-mPFC circuit dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael Shing
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK; Department of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR17BH, UK
| | - Matthew C Walker
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Pishan Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT.
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5
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Blomberg R, Signoret C, Danielsson H, Perini I, Rönnberg J, Capusan AJ. Aberrant resting-state connectivity of auditory, ventral attention/salience and default-mode networks in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Front Neurosci 2022; 16. [PMID: 36148149 PMCID: PMC9485623 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.972730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous resting-state studies on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have reported aberrant functional connectivity (FC) between the default-mode network (DMN) and the ventral attention/salience network (VA/SN). This finding has commonly been interpreted as an index of poorer DMN regulation associated with symptoms of mind wandering in ADHD literature. However, a competing perspective suggests that dysfunctional organization of the DMN and VA/SN may additionally index increased sensitivity to the external environment. The goal of the current study was to test this latter perspective in relation to auditory distraction by investigating whether ADHD-adults exhibit aberrant FC between DMN, VA/SN, and auditory networks. Methods Twelve minutes of resting-state fMRI data was collected from two adult groups: ADHD (n = 17) and controls (n = 17); from which the FC between predefined regions comprising the DMN, VA/SN, and auditory networks were analyzed. Results A weaker anticorrelation between the VA/SN and DMN was observed in ADHD. DMN and VA/SN hubs also exhibited aberrant FC with the auditory network in ADHD. Additionally, participants who displayed a stronger anticorrelation between the VA/SN and auditory network at rest, also performed better on a cognitively demanding behavioral task that involved ignoring a distracting auditory stimulus. Conclusion Results are consistent with the hypothesis that auditory distraction in ADHD is linked to aberrant interactions between DMN, VA/SN, and auditory systems. Our findings support models that implicate dysfunctional organization of the DMN and VA/SN in the disorder and encourage more research into sensory interactions with these major networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina Blomberg
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Linnaeus Center HEAD, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Rina Blomberg,
| | - Carine Signoret
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Linnaeus Center HEAD, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Henrik Danielsson
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Linnaeus Center HEAD, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Irene Perini
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jerker Rönnberg
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Linnaeus Center HEAD, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andrea Johansson Capusan
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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6
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Devlin BA, Smith CJ, Bilbo SD. Sickness and the social brain: How the immune system regulates behavior across species. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2021; 97:197-210. [PMID: 34915474 DOI: 10.1159/000521476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many instances of sickness critically involve the immune system. The immune system talks to the brain in a bi-directional loop. This discourse affords the immune system immense control, such that it can influence behavior and optimize recovery from illness. These behavioral responses to infection are called sickness behaviors and can manifest in many ways, including changes in mood, motivation, or energy. Fascinatingly, most of these changes are conserved across species, and most organisms demonstrate some form of sickness behaviors. One of the most interesting sickness behaviors, and not immediately obvious, is altered sociability. Here, we discuss how the immune system impacts social behavior, by examining the brain regions and immune mediators involved in this process. We first outline how social behavior changes in response to infection in various species. Next, we explore which brain regions control social behavior and their evolutionary origins. Finally, we describe which immune mediators establish the link between illness and social behavior, in the context of both normal development and infection. Overall, we hope to make clear the striking similarities between the mechanisms that facilitate changes in sociability in derived and ancestral vertebrate, as well as invertebrate, species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Devlin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Caroline J Smith
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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7
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Wei S, Lu C, Chen X, Yang L, Wei J, Jiang W, Liu Y, Li HH, Qin Y, Lei Y, Qin C, Hu C, Luo S. Abnormal regional homogeneity and its relationship with symptom severity in cervical dystonia: a rest state fMRI study. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:55. [PMID: 33546628 PMCID: PMC7863325 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02079-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although several brain networks play important roles in cervical dystonia (CD) patients, regional homogeneity (ReHo) changes in CD patients have not been clarified. We investigated to explore ReHo in CD patients at rest and analyzed its correlations with symptom severity as measured by Tsui scale. METHODS A total of 19 CD patients and 21 gender-, age-, and education-matched healthy controls underwent fMRI scans at rest state. Data were analyzed by ReHo method. RESULTS Patients showed increased ReHo in the right cerebellum crus I and decreased ReHo in the right superior medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). Moreover, the right precentral gyrus, right insula, and bilateral middle cingulate gyrus also showed increased ReHo values. A significantly positive correlation was observed between ReHo value in the right cerebellum crus I and symptom severity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our investigation suggested abnormal ReHo existed in brain regions of the "pain matrix" and salience network (the right insula and bilateral middle cingulate gyrus), the motor network (the right precentral gyrus), the cerebellum and MPFC and further highlighted the significance of these networks in the pathology of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubao Wei
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Chunhui Lu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiuqiong Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Wenyan Jiang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Hui Hui Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yuhong Qin
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yiwu Lei
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Chao Qin
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Caiyou Hu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
| | - Shuguang Luo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
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8
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Zheng M, Xu J, Keniston L, Wu J, Chang S, Yu L. Choice-dependent cross-modal interaction in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats. Mol Brain 2021; 14:13. [PMID: 33446258 PMCID: PMC7809823 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00732-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-modal interaction (CMI) could significantly influence the perceptional or decision-making process in many circumstances. However, it remains poorly understood what integrative strategies are employed by the brain to deal with different task contexts. To explore it, we examined neural activities of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats performing cue-guided two-alternative forced-choice tasks. In a task requiring rats to discriminate stimuli based on auditory cue, the simultaneous presentation of an uninformative visual cue substantially strengthened mPFC neurons' capability of auditory discrimination mainly through enhancing the response to the preferred cue. Doing this also increased the number of neurons revealing a cue preference. If the task was changed slightly and a visual cue, like the auditory, denoted a specific behavioral direction, mPFC neurons frequently showed a different CMI pattern with an effect of cross-modal enhancement best evoked in information-congruent multisensory trials. In a choice free task, however, the majority of neurons failed to show a cross-modal enhancement effect and cue preference. These results indicate that CMI at the neuronal level is context-dependent in a way that differs from what has been shown in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education and Shanghai), Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Jinghong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education and Shanghai), Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Les Keniston
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853 USA
| | - Jing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education and Shanghai), Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Song Chang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education and Shanghai), Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Liping Yu
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education and Shanghai), Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
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9
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Wolff M, Morceau S, Folkard R, Martin-Cortecero J, Groh A. A thalamic bridge from sensory perception to cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 120:222-235. [PMID: 33246018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The ability to adapt to dynamic environments requires tracking multiple signals with variable sensory salience and fluctuating behavioral relevance. This complex process requires integrative crosstalk between sensory and cognitive brain circuits. Functional interactions between cortical and thalamic regions are now considered essential for both sensory perception and cognition but a clear account of the functional link between sensory and cognitive circuits is currently lacking. This review aims to document how thalamic nuclei may effectively act as a bridge allowing to fuse perceptual and cognitive events into meaningful experiences. After highlighting key aspects of thalamocortical circuits such as the classic first-order/higher-order dichotomy, we consider the role of the thalamic reticular nucleus from directed attention to cognition. We next summarize research relying on Pavlovian learning paradigms, showing that both first-order and higher-order thalamic nuclei contribute to associative learning. Finally, we propose that modulator inputs reaching all thalamic nuclei may be critical for integrative purposes when environmental signals are computed. Altogether, the thalamus appears as the bridge linking perception, cognition and possibly affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wolff
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.
| | - S Morceau
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - R Folkard
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Martin-Cortecero
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Groh
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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Aime M, Augusto E, Kouskoff V, Campelo T, Martin C, Humeau Y, Chenouard N, Gambino F. The integration of Gaussian noise by long-range amygdala inputs in frontal circuit promotes fear learning in mice. eLife 2020; 9:62594. [PMID: 33252331 PMCID: PMC7704104 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Survival depends on the ability of animals to select the appropriate behavior in response to threat and safety sensory cues. However, the synaptic and circuit mechanisms by which the brain learns to encode accurate predictors of threat and safety remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that frontal association cortex (FrA) pyramidal neurons of mice integrate auditory cues and basolateral amygdala (BLA) inputs non-linearly in a NMDAR-dependent manner. We found that the response of FrA pyramidal neurons was more pronounced to Gaussian noise than to pure frequency tones, and that the activation of BLA-to-FrA axons was the strongest in between conditioning pairings. Blocking BLA-to-FrA signaling specifically at the time of presentation of Gaussian noise (but not 8 kHz tone) between conditioning trials impaired the formation of auditory fear memories. Taken together, our data reveal a circuit mechanism that facilitates the formation of fear traces in the FrA, thus providing a new framework for probing discriminative learning and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Aime
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Elisabete Augusto
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Vladimir Kouskoff
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Tiago Campelo
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Christelle Martin
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yann Humeau
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nicolas Chenouard
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Frederic Gambino
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, Bordeaux, France
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11
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Zhang X, Ye X, Cheng R, Li Q, Xiao Z. An Emergent Discriminative Learning Is Elicited During Multifrequency Testing. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1244. [PMID: 31824246 PMCID: PMC6881306 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In auditory-conditioned fear learning, the freezing response is independent of the sound frequencies used, but the frequency of the conditioned sound is considered distinct from those of unrelated sounds based on electrophysiological responses in the auditory system. Whether an emergent discriminative learning underlies auditory fear conditioning and which nuclei and pathways are involved in it remain unclear. Using behavioral and electrophysiological assays, we found that the response of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons to a conditioned auditory stimulus (CS) was enhanced relative to the response to unrelated frequencies (UFs) after auditory fear conditioning, and mice could distinguish the CS during multifrequency testing, a phenomenon called emergent discriminative learning. After silencing the mPFC with muscimol, emergent discriminative learning was blocked. In addition, the pure tone responses of mPFC neurons were inhibited after injection of lidocaine in the ipsilateral primary auditory cortex (A1), and the emergent discriminative learning was blocked by silencing both sides of A1 with muscimol. This study, therefore, provides evidence for an emergent discriminative learning mediated by mPFC and A1 neurons after auditory fear conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingui Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianhua Ye
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Cheng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongju Xiao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Rogers-Carter MM, Christianson JP. An insular view of the social decision-making network. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 103:119-132. [PMID: 31194999 PMCID: PMC6699879 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Social animals must detect, evaluate and respond to the emotional states of other individuals in their group. A constellation of gestures, vocalizations, and chemosignals enable animals to convey affect and arousal to others in nuanced, multisensory ways. Observers integrate social information with environmental and internal factors to select behavioral responses to others via a process call social decision-making. The Social Decision Making Network (SDMN) is a system of brain structures and neurochemicals that are conserved across species (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds) that are the proximal mediators of most social behaviors. However, how sensory information reaches the SDMN to shape behavioral responses during a social encounter is not well known. Here we review the empirical data that demonstrate the necessity of sensory systems in detecting social stimuli, as well as the anatomical connectivity of sensory systems with each node of the SDMN. We conclude that the insular cortex is positioned to link integrated social sensory cues to this network to produce flexible and appropriate behavioral responses to socioemotional cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan M Rogers-Carter
- Department of Psychology, McGuinn Rm 300, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA.
| | - John P Christianson
- Department of Psychology, McGuinn Rm 300, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA.
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13
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Medial Prefrontal Cortical Modulation of Whisker Thalamic Responses in Anesthetized Rats. Neuroscience 2019; 406:626-636. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.01.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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14
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James NM, Gritton HJ, Kopell N, Sen K, Han X. Muscarinic receptors regulate auditory and prefrontal cortical communication during auditory processing. Neuropharmacology 2018; 144:155-171. [PMID: 30352212 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Much of our understanding about how acetylcholine modulates prefrontal cortical (PFC) networks comes from behavioral experiments that examine cortical dynamics during highly attentive states. However, much less is known about how PFC is recruited during passive sensory processing and how acetylcholine may regulate connectivity between cortical areas outside of task performance. To investigate the involvement of PFC and cholinergic neuromodulation in passive auditory processing, we performed simultaneous recordings in the auditory cortex (AC) and PFC in awake head fixed mice presented with a white noise auditory stimulus in the presence or absence of local cholinergic antagonists in AC. We found that a subset of PFC neurons were strongly driven by auditory stimuli even when the stimulus had no associative meaning, suggesting PFC monitors stimuli under passive conditions. We also found that cholinergic signaling in AC shapes the strength of auditory driven responses in PFC, by modulating the intra-cortical sensory response through muscarinic interactions in AC. Taken together, these findings provide novel evidence that cholinergic mechanisms have a continuous role in cortical gating through muscarinic receptors during passive processing and expand traditional views of prefrontal cortical function and the contributions of cholinergic modulation in cortical communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M James
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Howard J Gritton
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Nancy Kopell
- Boston University, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Kamal Sen
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Xue Han
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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15
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de Haan R, Lim J, van der Burg SA, Pieneman AW, Nigade V, Mansvelder HD, de Kock CPJ. Neural Representation of Motor Output, Context and Behavioral Adaptation in Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex During Learned Behavior. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:75. [PMID: 30327591 PMCID: PMC6174330 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Selecting behavioral outputs in a dynamic environment is the outcome of integrating multiple information streams and weighing possible action outcomes with their value. Integration depends on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), but how mPFC neurons encode information necessary for appropriate behavioral adaptation is poorly understood. To identify spiking patterns of mPFC during learned behavior, we extracellularly recorded neuronal action potential firing in the mPFC of rats performing a whisker-based "Go"/"No-go" object localization task. First, we identify three functional groups of neurons, which show different degrees of spiking modulation during task performance. One group increased spiking activity during correct "Go" behavior (positively modulated), the second group decreased spiking (negatively modulated) and one group did not change spiking. Second, the relative change in spiking was context-dependent and largest when motor output had contextual value. Third, the negatively modulated population spiked more when rats updated behavior following an error compared to trials without integration of error information. Finally, insufficient spiking in the positively modulated population predicted erroneous behavior under dynamic "No-go" conditions. Thus, mPFC neuronal populations with opposite spike modulation characteristics differentially encode context and behavioral updating and enable flexible integration of error corrections in future actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel de Haan
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Judith Lim
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sven A van der Burg
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anton W Pieneman
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vinod Nigade
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Huibert D Mansvelder
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christiaan P J de Kock
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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16
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Crochet S, Lee SH, Petersen CCH. Neural Circuits for Goal-Directed Sensorimotor Transformations. Trends Neurosci 2018; 42:66-77. [PMID: 30201180 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Precisely wired neuronal circuits process sensory information in a learning- and context-dependent manner in order to govern behavior. Simple sensory decision-making tasks in rodents are now beginning to reveal the contributions of distinct cell types and brain regions participating in the conversion of sensory information into learned goal-directed motor output. Task learning is accompanied by target-specific routing of sensory information to specific downstream cortical regions, with higher-order cortical regions such as the posterior parietal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus appearing to play important roles in learning- and context-dependent processing of sensory input. An important challenge for future research is to connect cell-type-specific activity in these brain regions with motor neurons responsible for action initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Crochet
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Seung-Hee Lee
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Carl C H Petersen
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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17
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Chaves-Coira I, Martín-Cortecero J, Nuñez A, Rodrigo-Angulo ML. Basal Forebrain Nuclei Display Distinct Projecting Pathways and Functional Circuits to Sensory Primary and Prefrontal Cortices in the Rat. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:69. [PMID: 30158859 PMCID: PMC6104178 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence supports that specific projections between different basal forebrain (BF) nuclei and their cortical targets are necessary to modulate cognitive functions in the cortex. We tested the hypothesis of the existence of specific neuronal populations in the BF linking with specific sensory, motor, and prefrontal cortices in rats. Neuronal tracing techniques were performed using retrograde tracers injected in the primary somatosensory (S1), auditory (A1), and visual (V1) cortical areas, in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as well as in BF nuclei. Results indicate that the vertical and horizontal diagonal band of Broca (VDB/HDB) nuclei target specific sensory cortical areas and maintains reciprocal projections with the prelimbic/infralimbic (PL/IL) area of the mPFC. The basal magnocellular nucleus (B nucleus) has more widespread targets in the sensory-motor cortex and does not project to the PL/IL cortex. Optogenetic stimulation was used to establish if BF neurons modulate whisker responses recorded in S1 and PL/IL cortices. We drove the expression of high levels of channelrhodopsin-2, tagged with a fluorescent protein (ChR2-eYFP) by injection of a virus in HDB or B nuclei. Blue-light pulses were delivered to the BF through a thin optic fiber to stimulate these neurons. Blue-light stimulation directed toward the HDB facilitated whisker responses in S1 cortex through activation of muscarinic receptors. The same optogenetic stimulation of HDB induced an inhibition of whisker responses in mPFC by activation of nicotinic receptors. Blue-light stimulation directed toward the B nucleus had lower effects than HDB stimulation. Our findings pointed the presence of specific neuronal networks between the BF and the cortex that may play different roles in the control of cortical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Chaves-Coira
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Martín-Cortecero
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angel Nuñez
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Margarita L Rodrigo-Angulo
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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