Lesion of the ventral and intermediate hippocampus abolishes anticipatory activity in the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat

摘要: The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat receives a prominent input from ventral two thirds hippocampus, structure important for spatial awareness, working memory and motivation. We recently found [Hok V, Lenck-Santini PP, Roux S, Save E, Muller RU, Poucet B. Goal-related activity in hippocampal place cells. J Neurosci 2007;27:472–82.] that neurones dorsal hippocampus exhibit anticipatory firing prior to release food pellet on an operant task. Here we look similar mPFC same task test whether this is dependent hippocampus. Rats were trained navigate goal zone, wait then forage while unit was recorded prelimbic infralimbic areas mPFC. Two 16 min sessions conducted per day, one session with delimited by cue disc, second without cue. In controls, large proportion exhibited seen animal stationary at goal. Over half regardless location. Anticipatory largely abolished animals bilateral lesions intermediate both cued uncued sessions. Even though lesioned continued perform task, they tended leave zone prematurely. suggest structures have role either impulse control or reward expectation.