The present study examined whether inactivation of the prelimbic-infralimbi
c areas or the dorsal anterior cingulate area impairs strategy switching in
the cheeseboard task. After implantation of a cannula aimed at either the
prelimbic-infralimbic or dorsal anterior cingulate areas, all rats were tes
ted in a spatial and a visual-cued version of the task. Some of the rats re
ceived the spatial version first, followed by the visual-cued version. The
procedure for the other rats was reversed. Infusions of 2% tetracaine into
the prelimbic-infralimbic or dorsal anterior cingulate areas did not impair
acquisition of the spatial or visual-cued versions. However, inactivation
of the prelimbic-infralimbic areas, but not the dorsal anterior cingulate a
rea, impaired learning when rats were switched from one version to the othe
r. These findings suggest that the prelimbic-infralimbic areas are involved
in switching to new behavior-guiding strategies.