Impairment in a discrimination reversal task after D1 receptor blockade in the pigeon "prefrontal cortex".

Abstract

Dopamine (DA) is known to modulate cognitive functions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mammals, especially via D1 receptor mechanisms. Like the PFC, the neostriatum caudolaterale (NCL) of birds is characterized by dopaminergic input, and NLC and PFC lesions cause similar deficits. The significance of DA in a color discrimination reversal was assessed by evaluating the effects of bilateral infusions of the D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 into the NCL of pigeons (Columba livia). Reversal deficits were qualitatively similar to those in mammals. At a low dose, perseveration occurred predominantly to the incorrect stimulus. Higher doses caused additional spatial perseveration. The data demonstrate, for the first time, that D1 receptor mechanisms in the NCL of pigeons contribute substantially to its function in cognitive processes. Thus, the avian NCL and mammalian PFC could represent functionally equivalent neural networks under control of the DA system.

Bird Brains and Tool Use: Beyond Instrumental Conditioning

“…The most consistent finding in this literature is that NCL lesions impair reversal learning, in which a subject must stop responding to a previously reinforced stimulus and, instead, respond to the previously unreinforced stimulus [Hartmann and Güntürkün, 1998;Diekamp et al, 2000;Lissek et al, 2002]. Such response reversals require response inhibition, which may be generally impaired in birds with NCL lesions [Riters and Bingman, 1999].…”

Cognitive ornithology: the evolution of avian intelligence

“…Neurons within the CDLN respond during the delay period of Go/No Go tasks similarly to neurons in the primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Kalt et al 1999;Diekamp et al 2002b). With respect to neurochemistry, the distribution of DA fibres, D1 receptors, but not D2 receptors is highly concentrated in the CDLN, again similar to primate prefrontal cortex (Durstewitz et al 1999) and blockade of D1 receptors in CDLN also disrupts similar tasks to permanent lesions (Diekamp et al 2000). Finally, the CDLN is connected reciprocally with secondary sensory areas of all modalities (Leutgeb et al 1996;Metzger et al 1998;Kroener & Gunturkun 1999), and projects to somatomotor and limbic areas of the basal ganglia (Leutgeb et al 1996;Metzger et al 1998;Kroener & Gunturkun 1999), which allows it to influence behavioural and affective responses similar to primate prefrontal cortex.…”

Functional aspects of dopamine metabolism in the putative prefrontal cortex analogue and striatum of pigeons (Columba livia)

“…Both share a dense DAergic innervation (Wynne and Gü ntü rkü n, 1995), a highly comparable connectivity pattern (Kröner and Gü ntü rkü n, 1999), similar single unit properties (Kalt et al, 1999), as well as a prominent and D1-dependent (Diekamp et al, 2000, Gü ntü rkü n and Durstewitz, 2000) contribution to executive functions (Mogensen and Divac, 1982Divac, , 1993; Gü ntü rkü n, 1997; Hartmann and Gü ntü rkü n, 1998). On the other hand, numerous differences are obvious.…”

“…Although the NCL does not appear to be homologous to the PFC (Striedter et al, 1998;Puelles et al, 1999;Lanuza et al, 2000), behavioral, neuroanatomic, and electrophysiological data characterize it as an associative forebrain structure that may be of comparable significance as the PFC for behavioral control and executive functions, by contributing, for example, to working memory and behavioral flexibility Divac, 1982, 1993; Gü ntü rkü n, 1997; Hartmann and Gü ntü rkü n, 1998; Kalt et al, 1999;Kröner and Gü ntü rkü n, 1999). DAergic mechanisms were shown to be critical for the complex associative functions of the NCL (Diekamp et al, 2000; Gü ntü rkü n and Durstewitz, 2000) as well as for the sensorimotor functions of the avian striatum (Nisticò and Stephenson, 1979;Sanberg and Mark, 1983).…”