Neural Dynamics of Prefrontal Cortex during Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Reality Environment

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a key regulator of behavioral adaptation. Its subregions, the prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL), are known to play distinct roles in the expression and extinction of memories. To study these dynamics, we optimized a Virtual Reality (VR) platform integrated with in vivo electrophysiology to record mPFC activity during goal-directed behavior. Male and female C57BL/6 mice (3-4 months old) underwent a dual training protocol. For appetitive training, mice were head-fixed on a rotating cylinder within a VR environment, simulating an infinite corridor where a distinct tone signaled a 15µl water reward in specific zones. Following habituation and training, acute recordings were performed, targeting the PL and IL subregions. Initial implementation of this setup allowed for the simultaneous collection of behavioral and electrophysiological data. We report the acquisition of neural signals from the PL and IL while mice navigated the virtual environment. Preliminary analysis indicates the presence of both spiking and oscillatory activity synchronized with the animal's movement and task transitions. These results confirm the feasibility of the experimental design for recording mPFC dynamics in head-fixed mice. This platform will be used to further investigate the neural representations of memory processes and the interaction between these prefrontal subregions.