Prelimbic and infralimbic prefrontal cortex interact during fast network oscillations.
BACKGROUND
The medial prefrontal cortex has been implicated in a variety of cognitive and executive processes such as decision making and working memory. The medial prefrontal cortex of rodents consists of several areas including the prelimbic and infralimbic cortex that are thought to be involved in different aspects of cognitive performance. Despite the distinct roles in cognitive behavior that have been attributed to prelimbic and infralimbic cortex, little is known about neuronal network functioning of these areas, and whether these networks show any interaction during fast network oscillations.


RESULTS
Here we show that fast network oscillations in rat infralimbic cortex slices occur at higher frequencies and with higher power than oscillations in prelimbic cortex. The difference in oscillation frequency disappeared when prelimbic and infralimbic cortex were disconnected.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that neuronal networks of prelimbic and infralimbic cortex can sustain fast network oscillations independent of each other, but suggest that neuronal networks of prelimbic and infralimbic cortex are interacting during these oscillations.
van Aerde
Karlijn I
KI
Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Heistek
Tim S
TS
Mansvelder
Huibert D
HD
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition; D004594:Electrophysiology; D009415:Nerve Net; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism
D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D002217:Carbachol