The prelimbic cortex and subthalamic nucleus contribute to cue-guided behavioral switching

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Frontal cortex-basal ganglia circuits are vital for adapting behavior based on changing outcomes.
• The role of specific circuits in cue-guided behavioral switching remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the involvement of the prelimbic cortex and subthalamic nucleus in cue-guided behavioral switching.
• To determine if these brain regions support the use of cues to initiate response pattern changes.

Main Methods:

• Male Long-Evans rats were trained on a conditional discrimination task in a cross-maze with cue-dependent arm choices.
• Pharmacological manipulations (baclofen, muscimol, NMDA receptor blockade) and contralateral disconnection were used to assess the function of the prelimbic cortex and subthalamic nucleus.
• Performance was evaluated based on switch trial errors, perseveration, and maintenance errors.

Main Results:

• Infusions into the prelimbic cortex (baclofen, muscimol) significantly increased errors on switch trials and subsequent trials (perseveration).
• NMDA receptor blockade in the subthalamic nucleus also led to increased switch errors and perseveration.
• Contralateral disconnection of these areas impaired conditional discrimination, increasing switch and perseverative errors.

Conclusions:

• The prelimbic cortex and subthalamic nucleus are essential for utilizing cue information to guide behavioral switching.
• These brain regions facilitate the transition away from previously learned response patterns when signaled by cues.