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Behavioral flexibility is associated with changes in structure and function distributed across a frontal cortical

Jérôme Sallet1,2, MaryAnn P Noonan1, Adam Thomas3,4

  • 1Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

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|May 27, 2020
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Behavioral flexibility relies on a distributed frontal cortical circuit, not just central orbitofrontal cortex. This circuit, including posterior orbitofrontal cortex/anterior insula, shows structural and activity changes during reversal learning tasks.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • The central orbitofrontal cortex's role in behavioral flexibility is debated.
  • Lesion studies using excitotoxin injection did not impair discrimination reversal learning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the brain circuit mediating behavioral flexibility in reversal tasks.
  • To investigate structural and functional changes associated with reversal learning.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure gray matter changes in macaques before and after reversal learning.
  • Neural activity coupling in frontal cortical regions was assessed at rest.
  • Aspiration lesions of central orbitofrontal cortex were performed for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Gray matter changes were observed in posterior orbitofrontal cortex/anterior insula, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and lateral prefrontal cortex.
  • Increased neural activity coupling within this frontal circuit was found in the reversal learning group.
  • Aspiration lesions of central orbitofrontal cortex impacted the same frontal cortical circuit.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral flexibility is mediated by a distributed frontal cortical circuit, not solely the central orbitofrontal cortex.
  • Posterior orbitofrontal cortex/anterior insula is a key component of this circuit.
  • Structural and functional plasticity within this circuit underlies behavioral flexibility.