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Updated: May 6, 2026
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Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
Published on: September 11, 2017
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The infralimbic cortex bidirectionally modulates mesolimbic dopamine neuron activity via distinct neural pathways.
Mary H Patton1, Brandon T Bizup, Anthony A Grace
1Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260.
Summary
The infralimbic cortex bidirectionally controls ventral tegmental area dopamine activity via the hippocampus and amygdala. The prelimbic cortex only affects dopamine activity when inactivated, suggesting distinct roles in psychiatric disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Dopamine System Research
Background:
- The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is crucial in psychiatric disorders.
- The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regulates the VTA's dopamine system.
- The specific roles of mPFC subregions (ilPFC, plPFC) in VTA regulation are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the distinct roles of the infralimbic (ilPFC) and prelimbic (plPFC) cortices in regulating VTA dopamine activity.
- To examine the divergent neuroanatomical circuits involved in mPFC control of the VTA.
Main Methods:
- In vivo extracellular recordings in rats.
- Pharmacological activation (NMDA) and inactivation (TTX) of ilPFC and plPFC.
- Assessment of ventral subiculum (vSub) and basolateral amygdala involvement.
Main Results:
- The ilPFC bidirectionally controls VTA dopamine neurons, modulated by vSub and amygdala.
- ilPFC activation attenuated, while inactivation activated, VTA dopamine neuron activity.
- VTA dopamine activation depended on the ventral hippocampus; inactivation depended on the amygdala.
- Only plPFC inactivation altered VTA dopamine neuron activity.
Conclusions:
- The mPFC uniquely fine-tunes VTA dopaminergic activity.
- The ilPFC plays a significant role in VTA dopamine regulation, potentially in psychiatric disorders.
- Distinct ilPFC and plPFC circuits differentially influence VTA dopamine neuron activity.
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