Learning differentially shapes prefrontal and hippocampal activity patterns during classical conditioning

Abstract

The ability to use sensory cues to inform goal directed actions is a critical component of intelligent behavior. To study how sound cues are translated into anticipatory licking during classical appetitive conditioning, we employed high-density electrophysiological recordings from the hippocampal CA1 area and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). CA1 and PFC neurons undergo distinct learning dependent changes at the single cell level and maintain representations of cue identity during anticipatory behavior at the population level. In addition, reactivation of task-related neuronal assemblies during hippocampal awake Sharp-Wave Ripples (aSWR) changed within individual sessions in CA1 and over the course of multiple sessions in PFC. Despite both areas being highly engaged and synchronized during the task, we found no evidence for coordinated single cell or assembly activity during conditioning trials or aSWR.