Longitudinal assessment of prefrontal neural dynamics underlying learning and decision-making.

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Animals show a remarkable ability to learn and make efficient decisions. The prefrontal cortex is a brain region critically involved in these cognitive abilities. In this project, we are examining (1) how neurons in this brain region develop activity patterns associated with specific aspects of behaviour and (2) how the neurons during brain development set the foundation for supporting higher-order cognition in adulthood. We are using advanced optical imaging methods to observe the activity of the same prefrontal neurons throughout early brain development and during a complex decision-making task. This will reveal the dynamic changes that occur in the brain over time and how these changes are linked to the capacity to elicit complex behaviour - linking for the first-time, brain development and higher-order cognition - all investigated in the same animal. Relevant BBSRC priority areas: Data driven biology. Systems approaches to the biosciences. In vivo strategies and the 3Rs.