Mapping of Fine Scale Rat Prefrontal Cortex Connections: Evidence for Detailed Ordering of Inputs and Outputs Connecting the Temporal Cortex and Sensory-Motor Regions

Bedwell, Stacey A. and Tinsley, Chris J. (2018) Mapping of Fine Scale Rat Prefrontal Cortex Connections: Evidence for Detailed Ordering of Inputs and Outputs Connecting the Temporal Cortex and Sensory-Motor Regions. European Journal of Neuroscience. ISSN 0953816X

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Abstract

Cerebral cortex structure is crucially important for cortical organisation and function. The organisation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) is controversial and here we seek to understand it more clearly through the study of fine scale cortical connections. To determine the ordering of micro-scale input and output connections in the rat PFC we injected small volumes (20-30nl) of anterograde (Fluro-Ruby) and retrograde (Fluoro-Gold) neuroanatomical tracers into PFC. These injections revealed several connected regions of the brain but here we report findings restricted to PFC to temporal cortex and sensory-motor cortex pathways. In agreement with previous studies incorporating larger injection volumes we found that smaller injection volumes revealed a more detailed, fine scale ordering of both prefrontal inputs and output connections to the temporal cortex and sensory-motor cortex regions. These findings are also supported by labelling observed from additional tracer injections made into corresponding regions of temporal cortex. The topography observed reflected the ordering seen at a larger level (i.e with larger injection volumes) but there were some differences in the topography, such as in relation to the direction of ordering. In agreement with earlier work, we found that fine scale input and output connections were not always aligned with respect to one another. These results provide evidence for topographically arranged inputs and outputs in two distinct PFC pathways, along with evidence for different connectional patterns within the same pathways. Based on theories of functional connectivity, these findings provide evidence for prefrontal cortical regions residing within networks that contribute to different cognitive functions.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.14068
Dates:
DateEvent
5 July 2018Accepted
17 July 2018Published Online
Subjects: CAH04 - psychology > CAH04-01 - psychology > CAH04-01-01 - psychology (non-specific)
Divisions: Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences > Dept. Psychology
Depositing User: Silvio Aldrovandi
Date Deposited: 20 Jul 2018 09:57
Last Modified: 03 Mar 2022 15:42
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/6153

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