Task Division within the Prefrontal Cortex: Distinct Neuron Populations Selectively Control Different Aspects of Aggressive Behavior via the Hypothalamus

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Laszlo BiroJozsef Haller

Abstract

An important question in behavioral neurobiology is how particular neuron populations and pathways mediate the overall roles of brain structures. Here we investigated this issue by studying the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), an established locus of inhibitory control of aggression. We established in male rats that dominantly distinct mPFC neuron populations project to and produce dense fiber networks with glutamate release sites in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and lateral hypothalamus (LH; i.e., two executory centers of species-specific and violent bites, respectively). Optogenetic stimulation of mPFC terminals in MBH distinctively increased bite counts in resident/intruder conflicts, whereas the stimulation of similar terminals in LH specifically resulted in violent bites. No other behaviors were affected by stimulations. These findings show that the mPFC controls aggressiveness by behaviorally dedicated neuron populations and pathways, the roles of which may be opposite to those observed in experiments where the role of the whole mPFC (or of its major parts) has been investigated. Overall, our findings suggest that the mPFC organizes into working units that fulfill specific aspects of its wide-ranging roles.SIGNIFICANC...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 29, 2018·Journal of Neurochemistry·Rachel E ClarkeZane B Andrews
Sep 23, 2018·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Meghan E Flanigan, Scott J Russo
Aug 18, 2018·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Diána BalázsfiJózsef Haller
Oct 14, 2020·Nature Neuroscience·Julieta E Lischinsky, Dayu Lin
Feb 14, 2019·Cell Reports·Li WangDayu Lin
Feb 8, 2021·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·Ofer Yizhar, Dana R Levy
Apr 16, 2021·Current Biology : CB·Sabrina van HeukelumArthur S C França

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