Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Entesar Yaseen Abdo Qaid, Zuraidah Abdullah, Rahimah Zakaria, Idris Long
Summary: This study compared the effects of minocycline and memantine on LPS-induced locomotor deficits and anxiety-like behavior in rats. The results showed that minocycline treatment reduced locomotor deficits and anxiety-like behavior, decreased phosphorylated tau protein levels, and upregulated the expression of BDNF/CREB proteins in the medial prefrontal cortex.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Johan Alsio, Olivia Lehmann, Colin McKenzie, David E. Theobald, Lydia Searle, Jing Xia, Jeffrey W. Dalley, Trevor W. Robbins
Summary: Across-species studies have found an evolutionarily conserved role for serotonin in flexible behavior, including reversal learning. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of serotonin in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to visual discrimination and reversal learning. The findings revealed differential effects of serotonin within the two prefrontal cortex subregions on cognitive flexibility during visual discrimination and reversal learning.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sara Sabihi, Caitlin Goodpaster, Skyler Maurer, Benedetta Leuner
Summary: Mother-offspring interactions reduce postpartum anxiety-like behavior through GABAA neurotransmission in the mPFC. Activation of GABAA receptors in the mPFC restores anxiolysis in mothers separated from their pups, while an increased anxiety-like behavior in pup-separated mothers is associated with a lower number and percentage of activated GABAergic neurons in the mPFC.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei-Zhu Liu, Chun-Yan Wang, Yu Wang, Mei-Ting Cai, Wei-Xiang Zhong, Tian Liu, Zhi-Hao Wang, Han-Qing Pan, Wen-Hua Zhang, Bing-Xing Pan
Summary: Chronic stress exposure has differential effects on the output neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in different subregions and layers. Specifically, chronic stress reduces inhibitory synaptic transmission onto the basolateral amygdala (BLA)-projecting neurons in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) layer V, leading to an imbalance of excitation and inhibition. However, chronic stress does not affect the excitation-inhibition balance in the nucleus accumbens (NAc)-projecting neurons in any subregions or layers of mPFC.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Laura E. Meine, Jana Meier, Benjamin Meyer, Michele Wessa
Summary: Animal research has shown that control is crucial in the brain's stress response. This study investigated the effects of controllable vs. uncontrollable aversive stimuli on brain function in humans, finding that being able to control the stressor led to reduced activation in stress-responsive regions and decreased feelings of helplessness. The findings support the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in regulating stress responses dependent on controllability.
Article
Psychology
Ming Li
Summary: Maternal behavior is a socially adaptive behavior that is influenced by the changing characteristics of the young and the mother's psychophysiological state. This article focuses on the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in regulating the postpartum maternal behavior cycle in rats. A triadic model is proposed, which suggests that the mPFC, as an executive control system, organizes different patterns of maternal responses in different stages of postpartum through its interactions with the maternal excitatory approach system and the maternal inhibitory avoidance system. Dopamine and serotonin are hypothesized to regulate maternal behavior in all three neural systems. This model provides a framework for understanding the dynamic changes in postpartum maternal behavior and has implications for studying human parental behavior.
PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Elizabeth Woo, Dibyadeep Datta, Amy F. T. Arnsten
Summary: mGlu3 receptors are mainly expressed in neurons and astrocytes in rat PL mPFC, and are also found in microglia to a lesser extent. They are predominantly located on axons and widely distributed in the glial membrane, but are also present on dendritic spines, particularly in layer III.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Geoffrey W. Diehl, A. David Redish
Summary: Decision-making requires different aspects of information and involves multiple cognitive processes. The rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is believed to play a central role in these abilities. Previous studies on mPFC function have yielded controversial results, but this study with rats performing an economic decision task revealed four distinct functional domains within mPFC, closely related to anatomical subregions. Dorsal mPFC regions were more involved in processing active decisions, while ventral regions were more engaged in motivational factors.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jing Cao, Xin Liu, Jia-Xin Liu, Shuang Zhao, Yue-Xian Guo, Gui-Ying Wang, Xiu-Li Wang
Summary: The study demonstrates the important role of CaMKII-positive neurons in layer II/III of the medial prefrontal cortex in paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain and anxiety.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Arthur A. Coelho, Carla Vila-Verde, Ariandra G. Sartim, Daniela L. Uliana, Laura A. Braga, Francisco S. Guimaraes, Sabrina F. Lisboa
Summary: Stress exposure can lead to proinflammatory changes in the brain, including overexpression of iNOS in the mPFC. The ECB system is also influenced by stress and may act as a counter regulatory mechanism. This study suggests that iNOS inhibition may attenuate stress effects by facilitating local endocannabinoid signaling.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
David M. Bortz, Catalina M. Feistritzer, Cassidy C. Power, Anthony A. Grace
Summary: This study investigates how the activation of the medial septum (MS) influences dopamine (DA) neuron activity and performance in strategy switching after discrimination training. The results show that MS activation improves the switching of the previously learned strategy and may do so through the regulation of DA neuron responsivity.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Alessandro Piva, Lucia Caffino, Francesca Mottarlini, Nicholas Pintori, Fernando Castillo Diaz, Fabio Fumagalli, Cristiano Chiamulera
Summary: The study found distinct effects of ketamine and MK-801 in the rat brain, with ketamine inducing a pattern of enhanced excitability while MK-801 causing sparse changes. The two substances showed different effects on glutamate synapses in different brain areas, with ketamine leading to fine tuning of glutamatergic synapses compared to MK-801.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
John H. Harkness, Angela E. Gonzalez, Priyanka N. Bushana, Emily T. Jorgensen, Deborah M. Hegarty, Ariel A. Di Nardo, Alain Prochiantz, Jonathan P. Wisor, Sue A. Aicher, Travis E. Brown, Barbara A. Sorg
Summary: The study found diurnal fluctuations in perineuronal nets (PNNs) surrounding parvalbumin (PV) interneurons and PV cells, impacting the excitatory:inhibitory balance in the cortex and providing new insights into treatments for diseases affected by disruptions in sleep and circadian rhythms.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Gabor Csifcsak, Jorunn Bjorkoy, Sarjo Kuyateh, Haakon Reithe, Matthias Mittner
Summary: Recent studies suggest that choice behavior in reinforcement learning tasks is influenced by outcome controllability, with Pavlovian bias being enhanced under low control. High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) above the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has the potential to improve decision-making and mitigate maladaptive behaviors. Computational modeling showed that HD-tDCS modulated learning rate and choice randomness, highlighting its potential for interfering with choice arbitration under low control.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James W. M. Kang, Kevin A. A. Keay, Michael D. D. Kendig, Laura H. H. Corbit, David Mor
Summary: The ability to adaptively guide behavior requires integration of external information with internal motivational factors. Acute stress and chronic pain can impair decision-making, including cognitive dysfunction. This study investigated the relationship between dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites in brain regions regulating motivated behavior and decision-making.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Margaret K. Tanner, Isabella P. Fallon, Michael Baratta, Benjamin N. Greenwood
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2019)
Review
Neurosciences
Isabella P. Fallon, Margaret K. Tanner, Benjamin N. Greenwood, Michael Baratta
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Matthew G. Frank, Michael Baratta, Kaixin Zhang, Isabella P. Fallon, Mikayleigh A. Pearson, Guozhen Liu, Mark R. Hutchinson, Linda R. Watkins, Ewa M. Goldys, Steven F. Maier
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Glenn D. R. Watson, Ryan N. Hughes, Elijah A. Petters, Isabella P. Fallon, Namsoo Kim, Francesco Paolo Ulloa Severino, Henry H. Yin
Summary: The parafascicular nucleus (Pf) of the thalamus projects to the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and is responsible for movement initiation. Stimulation of Pf-STN projections can ameliorate movement deficits in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Heidi C. Meyer, Susan Sangha, Jason J. Radley, Ryan T. LaLumiere, Michael Baratta
Summary: Flexible calibration of threat responding in accordance with the environment allows animals to avoid harm while maintaining engagement in goal-directed actions. Stress exposure can alter threat response regulation, leading to enhanced fear conditioning and disrupted extinction and safety conditioning. Previous experiences with control or coping strategies may protect against the effects of future adversity.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Connor J. McNulty, Isabella P. Fallon, Jose Amat, Rory J. Sanchez, Nathan R. Leslie, David H. Root, Steven F. Maier, Michael V. Baratta
Summary: Stress-linked disorders are more common in women and have different clinical presentations. Investigating sex differences in factors that determine susceptibility or resilience to stress outcomes and the circuit elements that mediate these effects is important. This study found that in male rats, instrumental control over stressors prevented the negative effects of stress exposure, but this protective effect was not observed in females. Interestingly, the researchers found that the dorsolateral striatum supported the controlling response in females instead of the dorsomedial striatum observed in males.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Elijah A. Petter, Isabella P. Fallon, Ryan N. Hughes, Glenn D. R. Watson, Warren H. Meck, Francesco Paolo Ulloa Severino, Henry H. Yin
Summary: Animals can learn through reinforcement learning, and previous research has shown the importance of dopaminergic projections to the basal ganglia in this process. However, little is known about the role of the hippocampus. This study found that a specific population of hippocampal neurons, receiving dopaminergic input from the locus coeruleus and expressing D1 dopamine receptors, is involved in operant self-stimulation.