Complementary circuits connecting the orbital and medial prefrontal networks with the temporal, insular, and opercular cortex in the macaque monkey

J Comp Neurol. 2008 Feb 1;506(4):659-93. doi: 10.1002/cne.21577.

Abstract

The origin and termination of axonal connections between the orbital and medial prefrontal cortex (OMPFC) and the temporal, insular, and opercular cortex have been analyzed with anterograde and retrograde axonal tracers, injected in the OMPFC or temporal cortex. The results show that there are two distinct, complementary, and reciprocal neural systems, related to the previously defined "orbital" and "medial" prefrontal networks. The orbital prefrontal network, which includes areas in the central and lateral part of the orbital cortex, is connected with vision-related areas in the inferior temporal cortex (especially area TEav) and the fundus and ventral bank of the superior temporal sulcus (STSf/v), and with somatic sensory-related areas in the frontal operculum (OPf) and dysgranular insular area (Id). No connections were found between the orbital network and auditory areas. The orbital network is also connected with taste and olfactory cortical areas and the perirhinal cortex and appears to be involved in assessment of sensory objects, especially food. The medial prefrontal network includes areas on the medial surface of the frontal lobe, medial orbital areas, and two caudolateral orbital areas. It is connected with the rostral superior temporal gyrus (STGr) and the dorsal bank of the superior temporal sulcus (STSd). This region is rostral to the auditory parabelt areas, and there are only relatively light connections between the auditory areas and the medial network. This system, which is also connected with the entorhinal, parahippocampal, and cingulate/retrosplenial cortex, may be involved in emotion and other self-referential processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Auditory Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Auditory Pathways / physiology
  • Axons / physiology
  • Axons / ultrastructure*
  • Biotin / analogs & derivatives
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Cholera Toxin
  • Dextrans
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Limbic System / anatomy & histology
  • Limbic System / physiology
  • Macaca fascicularis / anatomy & histology*
  • Macaca fascicularis / physiology
  • Neural Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Parahippocampal Gyrus / anatomy & histology
  • Parahippocampal Gyrus / physiology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Temporal Lobe / anatomy & histology*
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology
  • Visual Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Visual Pathways / physiology

Substances

  • Dextrans
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • biotinylated dextran amine
  • Biotin
  • Cholera Toxin