The rat retrosplenial cortex as a link for frontal functions: A lesion analysis

Powell, Anna L.; Nelson, Andrew John Dudley; Hindley, Emma; Davies, Moira; Aggleton, John P.; Vann, Seralynne Denise

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2017.08.010

Cited by 25 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…For example, comparing the performance of the EGFP groups across Experiments 1 and 2, there was no difference in the magnitude of the key shift-cost measure. Furthermore, the profile of task performance of the EGFP groups in the current experiments closely match those of controls groups previously reported by both our and other groups (Chase et al, 2012;Lindgren et al, 2013;Wright et al, 2015;Powell et al, 2017;Tait et al, 2018). The unique learning profile of the experimental groups (impaired ID but facilitated ED shift performance) is similarly difficult to reconcile with an account framed in terms of off-target effects of the ligand.…”

Section: Methodsological Considerationssupporting

confidence: 80%

Chemogenetics reveal an anterior cingulate-thalamic pathway for attending to task-relevant information

Bubb¹,

Aggleton²,

O’Mara

et al. 2020

Preprint

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In a changing environment, we need to decide when to select items that resemble previously rewarded stimuli and when it is best to switch to other stimulus types. Here, we used chemogenetic techniques to provide causal evidence that activity in the rodent anterior cingulate cortex and its efferents to the anterior thalamic nuclei modulate the ability to attend to reliable predictors of important outcomes. Rats were tested on an attentional set-shifting paradigm that first measures the ability to master serial discriminations involving a constant stimulus dimension that reliably predicts reinforcement (intradimensional-shift), followed by the ability to shift attention to a previously irrelevant class of stimuli when reinforcement contingencies change (extradimensional-shift).Chemogenetic silencing of the anterior cingulate cortex (Experiment 1) as well as selective inactivation of anterior cingulate efferents to the anterior thalamic nuclei (Experiment 2) impaired intradimensional learning but, facilitated two sets of extradimensional-shifts. This pattern of results signals the loss of a cortico-thalamic system for cognitive control that preferentially processes stimuli resembling those previously associated with reward.Previous studies highlight a separate prefrontal system that promotes switching to hitherto inconsistent predictors of reward when contingencies change. Competition between these two systems regulates cognitive flexibility and choice.

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Section: Methodsological Considerationssupporting

confidence: 80%

Chemogenetics reveal an anterior cingulate-thalamic pathway for attending to task-relevant information

Bubb¹,

Aggleton²,

O’Mara

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Although some studies indicate that the RSC is not required in object recognition memory, it should be noticed that they were performed using lesions of the whole structure and testing memory in delays no longer than 30 min after the sample phase, i.e. STM [37][38][39][40] . Using the Y-OR task enabled us to study the "what" component of the recognition memory, in a context of negligible "where" component (due to the lack of contextual cues), by explicitly changing one object during the test session.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anterior retrosplenial cortex is required for long-term object recognition memory

Landeta

Pereyra

Medina

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is implicated on navigation and contextual memory. Lesions studies showed that the RSC shares functional similarities with the hippocampus (HP). Here we evaluated the role of the anterior RSc (aRSc) in the "what" and "where" components of recognition memory and contrasted it with that of the dorsal HP (dHP). Our behavioral and molecular findings show functional differences between the aRSC and the dHP in recognition memory. The inactivation of the aRSC, but not the dHP, impairs the consolidation and expression of the "what" memory component. In addition, object recognition task is accompanied by c-Fos levels increase in the aRSC. Interestingly, we found that the aRSC is recruited to process the "what" memory component only if it is active during acquisition. In contrast, both the aRSC and dHP are required for encoding the "where" component, which correlates with c-Fos levels increase. Our findings introduce a novel role of the aRSC in recognition memory, processing not only the "where", but also the "what" memory component. open Scientific RepoRtS | (2020) 10:4002 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60937-zwww.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ functions of the aRSC from those of the dHP, given that the last one is only required for the "where" component of recognition memory. ResultsaRSC, but not dHP, is required for the "what" memory component processing. To make a comparative study about the participation of aRSC and dHP in the "what" component of the recognition memory, we decided to study object recognition memory in the non-spatial Y-maze (Y-OR) task 28 . Due to the high walls, small corridors and the lack of explicit clues in the Y-maze, the Y-OR task has minimal spatial information and therefore a negligible "where" component. First, we validated the Y-OR task by transient inactivation of the PRh, confirming its requirement for object recognition memory ( Supplementary Fig. S1; p = 0.0031, t = 3.774, df = 11; Muscimol vs. Vehicle, Student's t test, n = 5-7). Then, we analyzed the participation of the aRSC and dHP in the formation of Y-OR long-term memory (LTM) by infusing the GABA A receptor agonist muscimol (0.1 μg/μl) or vehicle (saline) into the aRSC or the dHP immediately after the sample phase (training session), and we evaluated memory expression 24 h later during the choice phase (Fig. 1a). We found memory impairment associated to the Scientific RepoRtS | (2020) 10:4002 | https://doi.empty maze during 15 min for 2 days. Exposition time during sample and choice phases were the same as the Y-OR, with the difference that in this task the objects were located facing each other in the middle of the maze ( Supplementary Fig. S6B). Object Location. OL task was performed in the same apparatus that the SOR. This task was adapted fromEnnaceur and collaborators 37 . The habituation session consisted in letting the rat explore the empty apparatus during 20 min for 3 days. During the sample phase two identical objects were presented to the rat, each on...

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“…The present result is unlikely to reflect sparing as the lesions involved tissue along almost the entire AP axis. Furthermore, the lesions were functionally effective as the same animals were impaired on a test of matching to sample in the maze ( Powell et al, 2017 ). Rather, the lack of an effect suggests that in the absence of the RSC, neuronal activity in other sites may be sufficient to support latent inhibition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Behavioral training took place approximately 6 months after surgery. Prior to the current experiment, the animals had been tested on a strategy shift task and matching to place in a maze ( Powell et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Experiments 2: Rsc and Latent Inhibitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the RSC and ATN are densely interconnected ( Shibata, 1993 , 1998 ; van Groen & Wyss, 1990 , 1992 , 2003 ), there is reason to believe that these sites may make distinct contributions to the processing of nonspatial information. For example, unlike ATN damage, RSC lesions spare performance on an attentional set-shifting task that requires animals to track the relevance of stimulus dimensions and subsequently switch from one dimension of reinforced cue to another ( Powell et al, 2017 ); at the same time, these surgeries can produce functional dissociations in the opposite direction ( Robinson et al, 2014 ; Ward-Robinson et al, 2002 ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Anterior thalamic nuclei, but not retrosplenial cortex, lesions abolish latent inhibition in rats.

Nelson¹,

Powell²,

Kinnavane³

et al. 2018

Behavioral Neuroscience

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The present study examined the effects of excitotoxic lesions in 2 closely related structures, the anterior thalamic nuclei and the retrosplenial cortex, on latent inhibition. Latent inhibition occurs when nonreinforced preexposure to a stimulus retards the subsequent acquisition of conditioned responding to that stimulus. Latent inhibition was assessed in a within-subject procedure with auditory stimuli and food reinforcement. As expected, sham-operated animals were slower to acquire conditioned responding to a stimulus that had previously been experienced without consequence, relative to a non-preexposed stimulus. This latent inhibition effect was absent in rats with excitotoxic lesions in the anterior thalamic nuclei, as these animals conditioned to both stimuli at equivalent rates. The retrosplenial lesions appeared to spare latent inhibition, as these animals displayed a robust stimulus preexposure effect. The demonstration here that anterior thalamic nuclei lesions abolish latent inhibition is consistent with emerging evidence of the importance of these thalamic nuclei for attentional control.

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The rat retrosplenial cortex as a link for frontal functions: A lesion analysis

Cited by 25 publications

References 66 publications

Chemogenetics reveal an anterior cingulate-thalamic pathway for attending to task-relevant information

Chemogenetics reveal an anterior cingulate-thalamic pathway for attending to task-relevant information

Anterior retrosplenial cortex is required for long-term object recognition memory

Anterior thalamic nuclei, but not retrosplenial cortex, lesions abolish latent inhibition in rats.

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