Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
08:30
Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
Published on: February 15, 2015
20.9K
Medial prefrontal cortex circuit function during retrieval and extinction of associative learning under anesthesia
G E Fenton1, D M Halliday2, R Mason3
1School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
Neuroscience
|January 29, 2014
Summary
Associative learning and memory retrieval under anesthesia involve the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Both prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) cortex show increased neural activity during learning and memory recall.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Learning and Memory
Background:
- Associative learning is encoded in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) under anesthesia.
- Studies in conscious animals suggest distinct roles for mPFC subregions (prelimbic - PL, infralimbic - IL) in memory retrieval and extinction.
- The roles of PL and IL in discrimination learning under anesthesia remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of PL and IL in auditory discrimination learning and extinction under anesthesia using in vivo electrophysiology.
- To examine unit and local field potential (LFP) activity in PL and IL during learning, retrieval, and extinction phases.
- To determine if extinction processes occur under anesthesia and are reflected in neural activity.
Main Methods:
- In vivo electrophysiology was used to record unit and LFP activity in rat PL and IL.
- Auditory discrimination learning was induced by pairing one sound (CS+) with a footshock (US).
- Neural activity was analyzed during learning, retrieval (CS+ vs. CS-), and extinction testing.
Main Results:
- Increased unit firing and LFP power were observed in PL and IL after discrimination learning, but not after footshocks alone.
- Following learning, PL and IL showed heightened responses to the CS+ compared to the CS-.
- Neural activity in PL and IL increased during later CS- presentations, suggesting potential extinction under anesthesia.
Conclusions:
- Increased PL and IL activity result from encoding the CS+/US association, not just US presentation.
- Extinction of conditioned responses may occur under anesthesia.
- These findings suggest that PL and IL play roles in both associative learning and extinction processes even when anesthetized.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.5K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.5K
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
2.0K
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
2.0K
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
2.2K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
2.2K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.2K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
10.2K
01:16Role of Amygdala in Memory
1.9K
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
One of the...
1.9K