Reconfiguration of prefrontal-striatal-hippocampal networks during rule-based category learning in rats

Matthew B. Broschard; Jangjin Kim; Hunter E. Halverson; Sean J. Farley; John H. Freeman

doi:10.1038/s42003-026-10894-6

Back

Reconfiguration of prefrontal-striatal-hippocampal networks during rule-based category learning in rats

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Reconfiguration of prefrontal-striatal-hippocampal networks during rule-based category learning in rats

Matthew B. Broschard, Jangjin Kim, Hunter E. Halverson, Sean J. Farley and John H. Freeman

Communications biology

09/08/2026

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10894-6

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10894-6View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Categorization depends on multiple brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. However, it remains unclear how these regions interact during category learning. We recorded activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), dorsomedial striatum (DMS), and the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) as rats (n = 9, 3 females) learned a rule-based categorization task. Category-selectivity emerged early in the mPFC. In the DMS and dHPC, category-selectivity increased after learning and peaked before the rats’ decisions. A linear regression analysis revealed that all regions contained neurons with stimulus-related selectivity, decision-related selectivity, and “mixed selectivity”. From the local field potentials (LFPs), Granger causality revealed a learning-related reconfiguration of network synchrony. DMS-mPFC theta (4-10 Hz) causality was strongest during early training sessions and was directional from the DMS to the mPFC. mPFC-dHPC theta causality peaked during middle training sessions and was directional from the mPFC to dHPC. dHPC-DMS theta causality increased across training and was directional from the dHPC to the DMS. mPFC-dHPC causality and DMS-dHPC causality peaked before the rats’ decisions. The results indicate that early training sessions engaged a frontal-striatal circuit, whereas later training sessions engaged a hippocampal-striatal circuit. The transition to a hippocampal-striatal circuit is potentially mediated by top-down mPFC control.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Reconfiguration of prefrontal-striatal-hippocampal networks during rule-based category learning in rats
Creators: Matthew B. Broschard - University of Iowa
Jangjin Kim - University of Iowa, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Hunter E. Halverson - University of Iowa
Sean J. Farley - University of Iowa
John H. Freeman - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Communications biology
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10894-6
ISSN: 2399-3642
eISSN: 2399-3642
Publisher: Springer Nature
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 09/08/2026
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Office Of The Provost; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9985224338402771

Metrics

1 Record Views