The overall goal of this proposal is to understand how the prefrontal cortex contributes to the organization of behavior. Prefrontal cortical pathology may be linked to symptoms of disorganized behavior in schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Here, behavioral organization and the role of the prelimbic/infralimbic (PL/IL) region of the rat prefrontal cortex will be investigated. The PL/IL is necessary for rats to learn a new strategy in the same environment where an old strategy was previously successful. This proposal hypothesizes that the PL/IL is also required to use two previously learned strategies flexibly. Rats will be taught to solve a maze using one strategy, then the PL/IL will be inactivated while the rats learn a second strategy or use two familiar strategies flexibly. Electrophysiological recordings of PL/IL neurons will be taken from rats performing the same PL/IL dependent tasks. Behavioral and task correlates of PL/IL activity will suggest how these neurons encode information and how the PL/IL contributes to the organization of flexible behavior. By understanding normal function in prefrontal cortical regions, we may begin to understand how dysfunction is related to disease. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31MH077431-01
Application #
7112521
Study Section
Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section (BRLE)
Program Officer
Curvey, Mary F
Project Start
2006-05-29
Project End
2010-05-28
Budget Start
2006-05-29
Budget End
2007-05-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$42,548
Indirect Cost
Name
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029