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Dissociable and paradoxical roles of rat medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex in visual serial reversal learning

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Hervig, Mona El-Sayed 
Fiddian, Leanne 

Abstract

Much evidence suggests that reversal learning is mediated by cortico-striatal circuitries with the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) playing a prominent role. The OFC is a functionally heterogeneous region, but potential differential roles of lateral (lOFC) and medial (mOFC) portions in visual reversal learning have yet to be determined. We investigated the effects of pharmacological inactivation of mOFC and lOFC on a deterministic serial visual reversal learning task for rats. For reference, we also targeted other areas previously implicated in reversal learning: prelimbic (PrL) and infralimbic (IL) prefrontal cortex, and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Inactivating mOFC and lOFC produced opposite effects; lOFC impairing, and mOFC improving, performance in the early, perseverative phase specifically. Additionally, mOFC inactivation enhanced negative feedback sensitivity, while lOFC inactivation diminished feedback sensitivity in general. mOFC and lOFC inactivation also affected novel visual discrimination learning differently; lOFC inactivation paradoxically improved learning, and mOFC inactivation had no effect. We also observed dissociable roles of the OFC and the IL/PrL. Whereas the OFC inactivation affected only perseveration, IL/PrL inactivation improved learning overall. BLA inactivation did not affect perseveration, but improved the late phase of reversal learning. These results support opponent roles of the rodent mOFC and lOFC in deterministic visual reversal learning.

Description

Keywords

amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, reversal learningm, visual discrimination, Animals, Basolateral Nuclear Complex, Choice Behavior, Male, Prefrontal Cortex, Rats, Reversal Learning, Reward, Visual Perception

Journal Title

Cerebral Cortex

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1460-2199
1460-2199

Volume Title

30

Publisher

Oxford University Press
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (104631/Z/14/Z)
Wellcome Trust
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