Enhanced Neuronal Activity in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex during Social Approach Behavior

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0307-16.2016
• Publication Date: 2016-06-29T21:34:39Z
• Authors: E. Lee; I. Rhim; J. W. Lee; J.-W. Ghim; S. Lee; E. Kim; M. W. Jung
• Keywords: Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurons; Analysis of Variance; Mice; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Action Potentials; Animals; Prefrontal Cortex; Interpersonal Relations; Choice Behavior

Although the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is known to play a crucial role in rodent social behavior, little is known about mPFC neural correlates of social behavior. In the present study, we examined single-neuron activity in the mPFC of mice performing a modified version of the three-chamber test. We found that a subset of mPFC neurons elevate discharge rates when approaching a stranger mouse but not when approaching an inanimate object or an empty chamber. Our results reveal mPFC neural activity that is correlated with social approach behavior in a widely used social-interaction paradigm. These findings might be helpful for future investigations of mPFC neural processes underlying social interaction in health and disease.Although the prefrontal cortex is known to play a crucial role in rodent social behavior, little is known about prefrontal neural correlates of social behavior. This study shows that the activity of a subset of prefrontal neurons increases in association with social approach behavior during a three-chamber test-a widely used behavioral paradigm. Such responses might be a signature of prefrontal neural processes underlying social approach behavior.