Neuronal activity in rat medial prefrontal cortex during sucrose solution intake

Abstract

The rat's prefrontal cortex plays a role in integration of feeding-related information. In this study, we investigated the neuronal activity changes of medial prefrontal cortex during licking of sucrose solution by freely moving rats. We found two different types of excitatory and two different types of inhibitory single neuron responses time locked to the beginning of the licking clusters. Changes in firing rates occurred either within 2 s before the first lick of the licking cluster or during the licking cluster. These observations suggest that neuronal responses in the medial prefrontal cortex may represent anticipation and consummation of liquid food reward.

Processing of Hedonic and Chemosensory Features of Taste in Medial Prefrontal and Insular Networks

“…A recent model has suggested that bidirectional connections between GC and mPFC might play a role generating persistent activity (Laubach, 2011). Evidence of persistent hedonic signals in mPFC is consistent with this view.…”

“…Interestingly, palatability coding persisted longer in mPFC than in GC. Presence of persistent responses to hedonic value are consistent with evidence showing persistent activity in mPFC (Baeg et al, 2001(Baeg et al, , 2003Narayanan andLaubach, 2008, 2009).…”

“…The mPFC has been historically considered an area involved in cognitive and motivational control of behavior (Laubach, 2011). Behavioral tasks designed to investigate mPFC function have revealed, among others, responses to primary reinforcers, either positive or negative outcomes (Baeg et al, 2001;Matsumoto et al, 2003;Zhang et al, 2004;Horst and Laubach, 2013).…”

“…Neurons in mPFC can encode different type of rewards (i.e., sucrose, juice, intracranial stimulation; Takenouchi et al, 1999;Amiez et al, 2006;Petykó et al, 2009), and the magnitude of their responses correlates with the magnitude of the reward (Amiez et al, 2006). In addition, mPFC neurons display characteristic patterns of persistent firing with outcome-and task-dependent changes in firing rates that can be maintained for several seconds (Baeg et al, 2001(Baeg et al, , 2003Narayanan andLaubach, 2008, 2009).…”

“…In mammals, the mPFC has been studied mostly in reference to its function in controlling goal-directed actions and reward-guided behaviors (Matsumoto et al, 2003;Wallis and Kennerley, 2010;Laubach, 2011;Kvitsiani et al, 2013). In these experimental conditions, neurons in mPFC respond to rewarding or aversive outcomes (Baeg et al, 2001;Zhang et al, 2004;Horst and Laubach, 2013).…”