How the Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex Cooperate During Trace Eyeblinking Conditioning

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (08) ◽  
pp. 2050041
Author(s):  
Daniele Caligiore ◽  
Pierandrea Mirino
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Strong Interaction ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Trace Interval ◽  
Conditioned Stimuli ◽  
Cortical Organization ◽  
Time Sensitivity ◽  
Parallel Circuits

Several data have demonstrated that during the widely used experimental paradigm for studying associative learning, trace eye blinking conditioning (TEBC), there is a strong interaction between cerebellum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Despite this evidence, the neural mechanisms underlying this interaction are still not clear. Here, we propose a neurophysiologically plausible computational model to address this issue. The model is constrained on the basis of two critical anatomo-physiological features: (i) the cerebello-cortical organization through two circuits, respectively, targeting M1 and mPFC; (ii) the different timing in the plasticity mechanisms of these parallel circuits produced by the granule cells time sensitivity according to which different subpopulations are active at different moments during conditioned stimuli. The computer simulations run with the model suggest that these features are critical to understand how the cooperation between cerebellum and mPFC supports motor areas during TEBC. In particular, a greater trace interval produces greater plasticity changes at the slow path synapses involving mPFC with respect to plasticity changes at the fast path involving M1. As a consequence, the greater is the trace interval, the stronger is the mPFC involvement. The model has been validated by reproducing data collected through recent real mice experiments.

scholarly journals Aversive Pavlovian Control of Instrumental Behavior in Humans

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1428-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk E. M. Geurts ◽  
Quentin J. M. Huys ◽  
Hanneke E. M. den Ouden ◽  
Roshan Cools
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Instrumental Behavior ◽  
Conditioned Stimuli ◽  
Instrumental Approach ◽  
Bold Responses ◽  
Action Context ◽  
Approach And Withdrawal ◽  
Instrumental Control

Adaptive behavior involves interactions between systems regulating Pavlovian and instrumental control of actions. Here, we present the first investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying aversive Pavlovian–instrumental transfer using fMRI in humans. Recent evidence indicates that these Pavlovian influences on instrumental actions are action-specific: Instrumental approach is invigorated by appetitive Pavlovian cues but inhibited by aversive Pavlovian cues. Conversely, instrumental withdrawal is inhibited by appetitive Pavlovian cues but invigorated by aversive Pavlovian cues. We show that BOLD responses in the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens were associated with behavioral inhibition by aversive Pavlovian cues, irrespective of action context. Furthermore, BOLD responses in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex differed between approach and withdrawal actions. Aversive Pavlovian conditioned stimuli modulated connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the caudate nucleus. These results show that action-specific aversive control of instrumental behavior involves the modulation of fronto-striatal interactions by Pavlovian conditioned stimuli.

scholarly journals Light, Alertness, and Alerting Effects of White Light: A Literature Overview

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 589-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renske Lok ◽  
Karin C. H. J. Smolders ◽  
Domien G. M. Beersma ◽  
Yvonne A. W. de Kort
Keyword(s):  
White Light ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Research Paradigms ◽  
Lighting Conditions ◽  
Literature Overview ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
As Effects

Light is known to elicit non–image-forming responses, such as effects on alertness. This has been reported especially during light exposure at night. Nighttime results might not be translatable to the day. This article aims to provide an overview of (1) neural mechanisms regulating alertness, (2) ways of measuring and quantifying alertness, and (3) the current literature specifically regarding effects of different intensities of white light on various measures and correlates of alertness during the daytime. In general, the present literature provides inconclusive results on alerting effects of the intensity of white light during daytime, particularly for objective measures and correlates of alertness. However, the various research paradigms employed in earlier studies differed substantially, and most studies tested only a limited set of lighting conditions. Therefore, the alerting potential of exposure to more intense white light should be investigated in a systematic, dose-dependent manner with multiple correlates of alertness and within one experimental paradigm over the course of day.

scholarly journals Retrieval practice facilitates memory updating by enhancing and differentiating medial prefrontal cortex representations

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhifang Ye ◽  
Liang Shi ◽  
Anqi Li ◽  
Chuansheng Chen ◽  
Gui Xue
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Pattern Analysis ◽  
Retrieval Practice ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Final Test ◽  
Memory Updating ◽  
Practice Condition ◽  
Memory Integration

Updating old memories with new, more current information is critical for human survival, yet the neural mechanisms for memory updating in general and the effect of retrieval practice in particular are poorly understood. Using a three-day A-B/A-C memory updating paradigm, we found that compared to restudy, retrieval practice could strengthen new A-C memories and reduce old A-B memory intrusion, but did not suppress A-B memories. Neural activation pattern analysis revealed that compared to restudy, retrieval practice led to stronger target representation in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) during the final test. Critically, it was only under the retrieval practice condition that the MPFC showed strong and comparable competitor evidence for both correct and incorrect trials during final test, and that the MPFC target representation during updating was predictive of subsequent memory. These results suggest that retrieval practice is able to facilitate memory updating by strongly engaging MPFC mechanisms in memory integration, differentiation and consolidation.

scholarly journals Temporal Patterns of Inputs to Cerebellum Necessary and Sufficient for Trace Eyelid Conditioning

2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 627-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian E. Kalmbach ◽  
Tatsuya Ohyama ◽  
Michael D. Mauk
Keyword(s):  
Eyelid Conditioning ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Mossy Fiber ◽  
Mossy Fibers ◽  
Trace Conditioning ◽  
Trace Interval ◽  
The Us ◽  
Conditioned Responses ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
Stimulation Of

Trace eyelid conditioning is a form of associative learning that requires several forebrain structures and cerebellum. Previous work suggests that at least two conditioned stimulus (CS)-driven signals are available to the cerebellum via mossy fiber inputs during trace conditioning: one driven by and terminating with the tone and a second driven by medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that persists through the stimulus-free trace interval to overlap in time with the unconditioned stimulus (US). We used electric stimulation of mossy fibers to determine whether this pattern of dual inputs is necessary and sufficient for cerebellar learning to express normal trace eyelid responses. We find that presenting the cerebellum with one input that mimics persistent activity observed in mPFC and the lateral pontine nuclei during trace eyelid conditioning and another that mimics tone-elicited mossy fiber activity is sufficient to produce responses whose properties quantitatively match trace eyelid responses using a tone. Probe trials with each input delivered separately provide evidence that the cerebellum learns to respond to the mPFC-like input (that overlaps with the US) and learns to suppress responding to the tone-like input (that does not). This contributes to precisely timed responses and the well-documented influence of tone offset on the timing of trace responses. Computer simulations suggest that the underlying cerebellar mechanisms involve activation of different subsets of granule cells during the tone and during the stimulus-free trace interval. These results indicate that tone-driven and mPFC-like inputs are necessary and sufficient for the cerebellum to learn well-timed trace conditioned responses.

scholarly journals Prefrontal Cortex Mediates Extinction of Responding by Two Distinct Neural Mechanisms in Accumbens Shell

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 726-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ghazizadeh ◽  
F. Ambroggi ◽  
N. Odean ◽  
H. L. Fields
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Neural Mechanisms

Social cognition, brain networks and schizophrenia

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.-H. LEE ◽  
T. F. D. FARROW ◽  
S. A. SPENCE ◽  
P. W. R. WOODRUFF
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Frontal Lobe ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Shed Light

Background. A better understanding of the neural basis of social cognition including mindreading (or theory of mind) and empathy might help to explain some deficits in social functioning in people with schizophrenia. Our aim was to review neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies on social cognition, as they may shed light on the neural mechanisms of social cognition and its dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia.Method. A selective literature review was undertaken.Results. Neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies suggest convergence upon specific networks for mindreading and empathy (the temporal cortex, amygdala and the prefrontal cortex). The frontal lobe is likely to play a central role in enabling social cognition, but mindreading and empathic abilities may require relatively different weighting of subcomponents within the same frontal-temporal social cognition network.Conclusions. Disturbances in social cognition may represent an abnormal interaction between frontal lobe and its functionally connected cortical and subcortical areas. Future studies should seek to explore the heterogeneity of social dysfunction within schizophrenia.

Neural and Behavioral Responses to Ambiguous Facial Expressions of Emotion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Whalen ◽  
Maital Neta ◽  
M. Justin Kim ◽  
Alison M. Mattek ◽  
F. C. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expression ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Conditioned Stimuli ◽  
Environmental Cue ◽  
Facial Expressions Of Emotion ◽  
Prefrontal Circuitry

When it comes to being social, there is no other nonverbal environmental cue that is more important for humans than the facial expression of another person. Here we consider facial expressions as naturally conditioned stimuli that, when presented as images in an experimental paradigm, evoke neural and behavioral responses that serve to decipher the predictive meaning of the expression. We will cover data showing that the expressions of others alter our attention to the environment, our biases in interpreting these facial expressions, and our neural responses within an amygdala-prefrontal circuitry related to normal variations in reported anxiety.

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