Parallel neuronal structural plasticity with memory trace formation in the orbitofrontal cortex.

ABSTRACT: Flexible decision making is fundamental to day-to-day life. It often requires us to form expectations regarding the consequences of potential actions and to later retrieve those memories to guide choices. We used a task in which mice must develop, remember, and recall novel strategies to obtain rewards. Chemogenetically inactivating neurons within the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) that are active during memory encoding obstructed later memory retrieval, impeding action flexibility. Meanwhile, stimulating these same neurons induced action flexibility. Thus, OFC neurons form stable memory traces (MTs) that are necessary and sufficient for action flexibility. Long-term storage of action variables may require new experiences to trigger durable cellular changes. Accordingly, MT neurons had higher

SUBMITTER: Yount ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12474956 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature