Selective prefrontal serotonin depletion impairs acquisition of a detour-reaching task.
We have recently shown that serotonin in the primate orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) contributes to the flexible control of behaviour. 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine-induced 5-HT depletions of OFC impair performance on a serial reversal discrimination task [Clarke et al. (2004)Science, 304, 878-880]. The deficit is characterized by perseverative responding to the previously rewarded stimulus, a deficit similar to that seen following lesions of the intrinsic neurones of the OFC [Dias et al. (1996)Nature, 380, 69-72]. The effect is neurochemically selective as dopaminergic lesions of the OFC, induced by 6-hydroxydopamine, have no effect [Clarke et al. (2006)Cerebral Cortex]. In order to test for the generality of the effect of serotonin on orbitofrontal processing and, in particular, its effects on flexible behaviour, the present study investigated the effects of serotonin depletions of OFC on performance of another task dependent upon an intact OFC, the detour-reaching task [Wallis et al. (2001)European Journal of Neuroscience, 13, 1797-1808]. Successful performance of this task requires inhibition of the animal's prepotent response tendency to reach directly along its line of sight to the reward. Compared with sham-operated controls, we found that lesioned monkeys made significantly more barrier reaches directly along their line of sight to the visible reward during task acquisition. This finding provides further support for the role of prefrontal serotonin in inhibitory control processes specifically in tasks sensitive to OFC dysfunction.
Walker
S C
SC
Department of Experimental Psychology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK. scw34@cam.ac.uk
Mikheenko
Y P
YP
Argyle
L D
LD
Robbins
T W
TW
Roberts
A C
AC
D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000633:toxicity; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002144:Callithrix; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000172:deficiency*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000633:toxicity
D018490:Serotonin Agents; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin