Optogenetically-induced long term depression in the rat orbitofrontal cortex ameliorates stress-induced reversal learning impairment.

ABSTRACT: Cognitive flexibility is a higher-order executive function that requires plasticity in neuronal circuits of the prefrontal cortex. Deficits in cognitive flexibility are prominent in a variety of psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Chronic stress induces deficits in cognitive flexibility, perhaps through effects on plasticity, but the mechanism is not well understood. Previous work has demonstrated that stress reduces activity and dendritic elaboration in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In contrast, stress appears to increase dendritic elaboration in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). This suggests that there may be a differential effect of stress on plasticity in different prefrontal cortical areas. To test th

SUBMITTER: Adler SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7739068 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature