近日，美国加州大学教授董红卫小组研究出小鼠内脏运动皮层的神经网络。2025年8月27日出版的《自然》杂志发表了这项成果。

综合神经解剖学、生理学和行为学的方法，该课题组研究人员构建了MPF的综合接线图，重点关注背脚区（DP）——一个鲜为人知的前额叶区域。小组确定其深层（DPd）和浅层（DPs）层，以及边缘下区域，作为内脏运动皮层的主要组成部分，直接投射到下丘脑和脑干结构，以控制神经内分泌，交感神经和副交感神经输出。值得注意的是，DP作为一个网络枢纽，整合了不同的皮层输入，并通过一个很大程度上单向的皮层信息流来调节目标导向行为。在中尺度强积金连接组的基础上，小组提出了一个统一的网络模型，其中不同的强积金区域协调内部和外部刺激的生理和行为反应。

研究人员表示，内侧前额叶皮层（MPF）调节对压力的自主神经和神经内分泌反应，并协调目标导向行为，如注意力、决策和社会互动。然而，由于电路级MPF表征不完整，其潜在机制仍不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Neural networks of the mouse visceromotor cortex

Author: Hintiryan, Houri, Zhu, Muye, Zhao, Pingping, Zhang, Mingmin, Barry, Joshua, Nanda, Sumit, Rudd, Mitchell, Wong, Angela, Miller, Samara, Gou, Lin, Wei, Jinxing, Zingg, Brian, Sun, Jiandong, Gutierrez, Adriana, Mun, Hyun-Seung, Han, Yeji E., Bowman, Ian, Garcia, Luis, Lo, Darrick, Boesen, Tyler, Cao, Chunru, Zhao, Qiuying, Foster, Nicholas N., Moradi, Keivan, Yamashita, Seita, Estrada, Christian, Dev, Aishwarya, Gonzalez, Jennifer, Xu, Hanpeng, Yang, Gavin, Park, Chang Sin, Yang, X. William, Levine, Michael S., Zhang, Li I., Micevych, Paul, Cepeda, Carlos, Golshani, Peyman, Hong, Weizhe, Dong, Hong-Wei

Issue&Volume: 2025-08-27

Abstract: The medial prefrontal cortex (MPF) regulates autonomic and neuroendocrine responses to stress1,2 and coordinates goal-directed behaviours such as attention, decision-making and social interactions3,4,5,6,7,8. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear due to incomplete circuit-level MPF characterization7. Here, using integrated neuroanatomical, physiological and behavioural approaches, we construct a comprehensive wiring diagram of the MPF, focused on the dorsal peduncular area (DP)—a poorly understood prefrontal area. We identify its deep (DPd) and superficial (DPs) layers, along with the infralimbic area, as major components of the visceromotor cortex that directly project to hypothalamic and brainstem structures to govern neuroendocrine, sympathetic and parasympathetic output. Notably, the DP functions as a network hub integrating diverse cortical inputs and modulating goal-directed behaviour through a largely unidirectional cortical information flow. On the basis of the mesoscale MPF connectome, we propose a unified network model in which distinct MPF areas orchestrate physiological and behavioural responses to internal and external stimuli.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09360-w

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09360-w