Prefrontal cortex to lateral habenula neural circuit (PFC-LHb neural circuit)

The prefrontal cortex to lateral habenula (PFC-LHb) neural circuit is a defined axonal projection pathway connecting the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region involved in executive functions and behavioral control, to the lateral habenula (LHb), a key node that encodes negative reward, aversion, and modulates midbrain monoaminergic systems[1][3][4][7]. This circuit plays a crucial role in integrating contextual and behavioral information from the cortex and relaying it to subcortical centers that govern emotional, motivational, and reward-related responses. Activation or inhibition of the PFC-LHb circuit has been shown in rodent models to regulate reward-driven behaviors, stress responses, anxiety, and the ability to adjust to negative outcomes, implicating it in substance use disorder, depression, and other neuropsychiatric conditions[1][2][3][7]. However, it is not a molecular target in the classic sense, as it describes a polysynaptic anatomical pathway rather than a specific protein, receptor, or gene product[1][3][4].

Other names

PFC-LHb pathwayprefrontal cortex-lateral habenula circuitmPFC-LHb circuitprefrontohabenular circuit