The Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (LPFC) and the Dorsal Premotor cortex (PMd) are two cortical structures that are involved in cognitive processes such as motor planning and decision-making. The LPFC is extensively connected to sensory, somatosensory, and motor cortices that help it control several cognitive functions [for review, see: (Tanji & Hoshi, 2008)]. Similarly, the PMd can integrate information from the prefrontal and motor cortex, acting as a link, in action planning and decision making [for review, see: (Hoshi & Tanji, 2007)]. Therefore, it is important to study the cortical pathways between these areas because of their common role in processing and selecting relevant information in tasks requiring decision-making. Using neural tract-tracing, immunolabeling and microscopy in rhesus monkeys (M. mulatta), we assessed the distribution and layer-specific organization of projection neurons from LPFC area 46 and PMd area 6 directed to the LPFC area 9. Our study revealed that projection neurons to area 9 were found originating from upper (L2-3) and deep (L5-6) layers of both areas, but with a slight upper layer bias. We found that the LPFC area 46 had a higher density of projection neurons directed to LPFC area 9 compared to the PMd area 6. Additionally, our data also revealed laminar differences in the perisomatic parvalbumin (PV) inhibitory inputs onto area 9 projection neurons, which were dependent on area of origin. Within ventral LPFC area 46, perisomatic PV+ inhibitory inputs onto upper layer projection neurons to area 9 was greater than those onto deep layer projection neurons. The opposite pattern was found for PMd area 6DR, where perisomatic PV+ inhibition onto deep layer projection neurons to area 9 was greater than those onto upper layer neurons. These findings provide additional insights into the layer-specific organization of prefrontal and premotor pathways that play an important role in action planning and decision-making.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/48126 |
| Date | 16 February 2024 |
| Creators | Bhatt, Hrishti |
| Contributors | Medalla, Maria L.A., Luebke, Jennifer I. |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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