Involvement of the rodent prelimbic and medial orbitofrontal cortices in goal-directed action: A brief review

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shannon Gourley, Emory University; Ellen P Woon, Emory University; Michelle K Sequeira, Emory University; Britton R Barbee, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-12-10
• Publisher: WILEY
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24567
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
• Volume: 98
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 1020
• End Page: 1030
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by NIH MH117103, MH100023, DA044297, NS096050, and OD011132
• Keywords: rat; BDNF; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; review; mouse; AMYGDALA; COCAINE; reward; PROJECTIONS; Science & Technology; RAT; response-outcome; Neurosciences & Neurology; NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR; VENTROMEDIAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX; action-outcome; habit; Neurosciences; INSTRUMENTAL ACTION; devaluation; contingency degradation; DECISION-MAKING; MESSENGER-RNA

Abstract

Goal-directed action refers to selecting behaviors based on the expectation that they will be reinforced with desirable outcomes. It is typically conceptualized as opposing habit-based behaviors, which are instead supported by stimulus–response associations and insensitive to consequences. The prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PL) is positioned along the medial wall of the rodent prefrontal cortex. It is indispensable for action–outcome-driven (goal-directed) behavior, consolidating action–outcome relationships and linking contextual information with instrumental behavior. In this brief review, we will discuss the growing list of molecular factors involved in PL function. Ventral to the PL is the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC). We will also summarize emerging evidence from rodents (complementing existing literature describing humans) that it too is involved in action–outcome conditioning. We describe experiments using procedures that quantify responding based on reward value, the likelihood of reinforcement, or effort requirements, touching also on experiments assessing food consumption more generally. We synthesize these findings with the argument that the mOFC is essential to goal-directed action when outcome value information is not immediately observable and must be recalled and inferred.