title: Prefrontal control of cerebellum-dependent associative motor learning.
abstract: Behavioral studies have demonstrated that both medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and cerebellum play critical roles in trace eyeblink conditioning. However, little is known regarding the mechanism by which the two brain regions interact. By use of electrical stimulation of the caudal mPFC as a conditioned stimulus, we show evidence that persistent outputs from the mPFC to cerebellum are necessary and sufficient for the acquisition and expression of a trace conditioned response (CR)-like response. Specifically, the persistent outputs of caudal mPFC are relayed to the cerebellum via the rostral part of lateral pontine nuclei. Moreover, interfering with persistent activity by blockade of the muscarinic Ach receptor in the caudal mPFC impairs the expression of learned trace CRs. These results suggest an important way for the caudal mPFC to interact with the cerebellum during associative motor learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Gaotanyan Street 30, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guang-yan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-ru
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhi-an
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jian-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001767:Blinking / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011149:Pons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D009118:Muscimol; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D012601:Scopolamine