scholarly journals Sucrose Consumption Alters Serotonin/Glutamate Co-localisation Within the Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus of Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Beecher ◽  
Joshua Wang ◽  
Angela Jacques ◽  
Nicholas Chaaya ◽  
Fatemeh Chehrehasa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Emotional Memory ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Dietary Control ◽  
Sucrose Consumption ◽  
Microglial Migration ◽  
Feeding Control ◽  
Drinking In The Dark

The overconsumption of sugar-sweetened food and beverages underpins the current rise in obesity rates. Sugar overconsumption induces maladaptive neuroplasticity to decrease dietary control. Although serotonin and glutamate co-localisation has been implicated in reward processing, it is still unknown how chronic sucrose consumption changes this transmission in regions associated with executive control over feeding—such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. To address this, a total of 16 C57Bl6 mice received either 5% w/v sucrose or water as a control for 12 weeks using the Drinking-In-The-Dark paradigm (n = 8 mice per group). We then examined the effects of chronic sucrose consumption on the immunological distribution of serotonin (5-HT), vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3) and 5-HT+/VGLUT3+ co-localised axonal varicosities. Sucrose consumption over 12 weeks decreased the number of 5-HT–/VGLUT3+ and 5-HT+/VGLUT3+ varicosities within the PFC and DG. The number of 5-HT+/VGLUT3– varicosities remained unchanged within the PFC but decreased in the DG following sucrose consumption. Given that serotonin mediates DG neurogenesis through microglial migration, the number of microglia within the DG was also assessed in both experimental groups. Sucrose consumption decreased the number of DG microglia. Although the DG and PFC are associated with executive control over rewarding activities and emotional memory formation, we did not detect a subsequent change in DG neurogenesis or anxiety-like behaviour or depressive-like behaviour. Overall, these findings suggest that the chronic consumption of sugar alters serotonergic neuroplasticity within neural circuits responsible for feeding control. Although these alterations alone were not sufficient to induce changes in neurogenesis or behaviour, it is proposed that the sucrose consumption may predispose individuals to these cognitive deficits which ultimately promote further sugar intake.

Working memory and executive control

1996 ◽  
Vol 351 (1346) ◽  
pp. 1397-1404 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Central Executive ◽  
Executive Processes ◽  
Concurrent Tasks ◽  
Dual Task Performance ◽  
Suitable Framework ◽  
Frontal Lesions

A major problem in analysing the executive processes that seem to depend upon the prefrontal cortex stems from the absence of a well developed cognitive model of such processes. It is suggested that the central executive component of an earlier model of working memory might provide a suitable framework for such an analysis. The approach is illustrated using one proposed component of executive control, namely the capacity to combine two concurrent tasks. The application of the approach to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and patients with acquired brain damage is discussed. Finally, a study is described in which the dual task performance of patients with known frontal lesions is shown to be associated with observed behavioural problems. The paper concludes with the discussion of the prospects for extending the approach to include a range of other executive processes, and to the way in which such an analysis may subsequently lead to a more integrated model of the central executive, and a better understanding of its relationship to the prefrontal cortex.

scholarly journals Thinking and Feeling

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Scult ◽  
Annchen R. Knodt ◽  
Johnna R. Swartz ◽  
Bartholomew D. Brigidi ◽  
Ahmad R. Hariri
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cognitive Reappraisal ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Clinical Diagnoses ◽  
Math Problems

Calculating math problems from memory may seem unrelated to everyday processing of emotions, but they have more in common than one might think. Prior research highlights the importance of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) in executive control, intentional emotion regulation, and experience of dysfunctional mood and anxiety. Although it has been hypothesized that emotion regulation may be related to “cold” (i.e., not emotion-related) executive control, this assertion has not been tested. We address this gap by providing evidence that greater dlPFC activity during cold executive control is associated with increased use of cognitive reappraisal to regulate emotions in everyday life. We then demonstrate that in the presence of increased life stress, increased dlPFC activity is associated with lower mood and anxiety symptoms and clinical diagnoses. Collectively, our results encourage ongoing efforts to understand prefrontal executive control as a possible intervention target for improving emotion regulation in mood and anxiety disorders.

scholarly journals Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Decreases Emotional Memory Schemas

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 3608-3616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonore Bovy ◽  
Ruud M W J Berkers ◽  
Julia C M Pottkämper ◽  
Rathiga Varatheeswaran ◽  
Guillén Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Emotional Memory ◽  
Memory Bias

Abstract Mood-congruent memory bias is a critical characteristic of depression, but the underlying neural mechanism is largely unknown. Negative memory schemas might enhance encoding and consolidation of negative experiences, thereby contributing to the genesis and perpetuation of depressive pathology. To investigate this relationship, we aimed to perturb medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) processing, using neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting the mPFC. Forty healthy volunteers first underwent a negative mood induction to activate negative schema processing after which they received either active inhibitory (N = 20) or control (N = 20) stimulation to the mPFC. Then, all participants performed the encoding of an emotional false memory task. Recall and recognition performance was tested the following morning. Polysomnographic data were recorded continuously during the night before and after encoding. We observed a significantly lower false recognition of negative critical lures following mPFC inhibition, but no differences in veridical memory. These findings were supported by reaction time data, showing a relative slower response to negative compared with positive critical lures. The current findings support previous causal evidence for a role of the mPFC in schema memory processing and further suggest a role of the mPFC in memory bias.

scholarly journals The prefrontal cortex and the executive control of attention

2008 ◽  
Vol 192 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew F. Rossi ◽  
Luiz Pessoa ◽  
Robert Desimone ◽  
Leslie G. Ungerleider
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Control

scholarly journals Differences in reward processing between putative cell types in primate prefrontal cortex

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. e0189771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongwei Fan ◽  
Xiaochuan Pan ◽  
Rubin Wang ◽  
Masamichi Sakagami
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Reward Processing

Cognitive control in altruism and self-control: A social cognitive neuroscience perspective

2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-260
Author(s):  
Jeremy R. Gray ◽  
Todd S. Braver
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Social Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
The Face

The primrose path and prisoner's dilemma paradigms may require cognitive (executive) control: The active maintenance of context representations in lateral prefrontal cortex to provide top-down support for specific behaviors in the face of short delays or stronger response tendencies. This perspective suggests further tests of whether altruism is a type of self-control, including brain imaging, induced affect, and dual-task studies.

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