Optogenetic stimulation of mPFC pyramidal neurons as a conditioned stimulus supports associative learning in rats.

ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted that the associative learning occurs when a behaviorally neutral conditioned stimulus (CS) is paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US) in close temporal proximity. Eyeblink conditioning (EBC) is a simple form of associative learning for motor responses. Specific activation of a population of cells may be an effective and sufficient CS for establishing EBC. However, there has been no direct evidence to support this hypothesis. Here, we show in rats that optogenetic activation of the right caudal mPFC pyramidal neurons as a CS is sufficient to support the acquisition of delay eyeblink conditioning (DEC). Interestingly, the associative memory was not stably expressed during the initial period of daily conditioning session even after the CR acquisition reach

SUBMITTER: Wu GY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4431347 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature