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The Journal of Neuroscience, April 29, 2009, 29(17):5516-5524; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5953-08.2009

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
Monkey Prefrontal Cortical Pyramidal and Putative Interneurons Exhibit Differential Patterns of Activity Between Prosaccade and Antisaccade Tasks

Kevin Johnston,¹ Joseph F. X. DeSouza,¹ and Stefan Everling^1,2

¹Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada, and ²Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario N6A 5K8, Canada

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Stefan Everling, The Centre for Brain and Mind, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, London, ON N6A 5K8, Canada. Email: severlin{at}uwo.ca

Previous studies have shown that prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons carry task-related activity; however, it is largely unknown how this selectivity is implemented in PFC microcircuitry. Here, we exploited known differences in extracellular action potential waveforms, and antidromic identification, to classify PFC neurons as putative pyramidal or interneurons, and investigate their relative contributions to task-selectivity. We recorded the activity of prefrontal neurons while monkeys performed a blocked pro/antisaccade task in which they were required to look either toward or away from a peripheral visual stimulus. We found systematic differences in activity between neuron classes. Putative pyramidal neurons had higher stimulus-related activity on antisaccade trials, whereas putative interneurons exhibited greater activity for prosaccades. These findings suggest that task-selectivity in the PFC may be shaped by interactions between these neuronal classes. They are also consistent with the robust deficits in antisaccade performance frequently observed in disease states associated with PFC dysfunction.

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Received Dec. 15, 2008; revised Feb. 18, 2009; accepted March 23, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Stefan Everling, The Centre for Brain and Mind, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, London, ON N6A 5K8, Canada. Email: severlin{at}uwo.ca

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