Cited by 195Memory and Neural MechanismsNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Going and stopping: dichotomies in behavioral control by the prefrontal cortex

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Gourley, Shannon L, Taylor, Jane R·2016·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

The rodent dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (PFC), specifically the prelimbic cortex (PL), regulates the expression of conditioned fear and behaviors interpreted as reward-seeking. Meanwhile, the ventral medial PFC, namely the infralimbic cortex (IL), is essential to extinction conditioning in both appetitive and aversive domains. Here we review evidence that supports, or refutes, this "PL-go/IL-stop" dichotomy. We focus on the extinction of conditioned fear and the extinction and reinstatement of cocaine- or heroin-reinforced responding. We then synthesize evidence that the PL is essential for developing goal-directed response strategies, while the IL supports habit behavior. Finally, we propose that some functions of the orbital PFC parallel those of the medial PFC in the regulation of response selection. Integration of these discoveries may provide points of intervention for inhibiting untethered drug seeking in drug use disorders, failures in extinction in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or co-morbidities between the two.

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  • Other data suggest that, more generally, PL encodes for the learning of rules, while IL allows for rule reversal.

    “However, there are other data to suggest that, more generally, PL encodes for the learning of rules, while IL allows for rule reversal [18].”

    From Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and threat processing: implications for PTSD (2022) · cites this paper as [18]

    In Part 2, “The PL regulates reward-related decision making” (page unavailable), the review links PL to response–outcome learning and encoding reinforcement value. “The IL supports habit behavior” (page unavailable) describes IL involvement in switching between old and new habits. These findings are related to behavioral flexibility, but the copy does not establish the broader division that PL encodes rule learning while IL enables rule reversal. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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  • The mPFC of the rodent regulates a balance between goal-oriented and habitual behaviors.

    “The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rodent regulates a balance between goal-oriented and habitual behaviors [18, 19].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [86]Robinson TE Berridge KC Addiction Annu. Rev. Psychol 2003 54 25 53 12185211
  2. [118]Zimmermann KS Yamin JA Rainnie DG Kessler KJ Gourley SL Connections of the mouse orbitofrontal cortex and regulation of goal-directed action selection by BDNF-trkB Biol Psychiatry in press PMC4871791 26786312

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Authors
Gourley, S. L., & Taylor, J. R.
Affiliations
  • Emory University (US)
  • Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Gourley, Shannon L
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2016-04-26
Volume
19
Issue
5
Pages
656-664
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2345112163
Cited by
195
References
152
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 11
FWCI
17.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • National Institutes of Health (P51OD011132)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH101477)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R03DA036737, R21DA034808, P20DA027844, R01DA011717)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, prelimbic cortex, infralimbic cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, fear extinction, reward seeking, cocaine reinstatement, drug-seeking behavior, goal-directed behavior, response selection, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug use disorders

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