Abstract

The prefrontal cortex is a complex structure that plays diverse roles in cognition and is disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite decades of research, we have no formal model of how prefrontal circuits predict this multifaceted role in behavior and disease. The symposium will present recent research using a range of modern physiological, behavioral, and molecular techniques to uncover the mechanisms that govern prefrontal computations and advance our knowledge on cognitive processing.

We will discuss current approaches to dissect circuits and cellular elements accounting for cognitive flexibility, the ability to store and update new evidence, (re)-evaluate the choices and take adaptive decisions. In particular, Thomas Klausberger will introduce new principles how neural assemblies in prefrontal cortex enable computations for flexible deliberation and metacognition. Sandra Reinert will reveal how activity patterns of prefrontal neurons code the flexible grouping of objects and experiences into categories. Finally, Jens Hjerling Leffler will expand from behavior, circuits and cellular elements to molecular perturbations in the prefrontal cortex that might underlie cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.