Distinct prelimbic cortex ensembles encode response execution and inhibition.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

• The prelimbic cortex (PL) is crucial for adaptive behavior, integrating past experiences with new information.
• A stable PL neuronal population (ensemble) is recruited for operant reward learning and response execution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the PL neuronal ensemble adapts to changing reward contingencies, specifically during extinction (reward omission).
• To determine if the same PL ensemble adjusts for behavior suppression or if a distinct ensemble is recruited for extinction learning.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal single-cell calcium imaging in rats during operant conditioning (Training), extinction, and reinstatement phases.
• Training decoders on PL activity patterns to predict trial-wise responses.
• Utilizing an in silico deletion approach to identify distinct PL ensembles for response execution and inhibition.

Main Results:

• Operant extinction learning recruits a distinct PL Extinction ensemble for response inhibition.
• Concerted engagement of both Training and Extinction ensembles encodes context-specific behavior.
• Both ensembles were re-engaged and maintained their distinct roles during reinstatement.

Conclusions:

• The prelimbic cortex employs distinct neuronal ensembles for opposing learned associations (action execution vs. inhibition).
• Selective recruitment of these ensembles enables behavioral flexibility in response to changing environmental contingencies.
• This highlights ensemble-based neural coding for multiple, even conflicting, learned behaviors within the same brain region.