a–d, Viral strategy for rabies tracing experiments in which the monosynaptic inputs to PFC–PVT (a, b) and PFC–NAc (c, d) neurons were evaluated (n = 3 mice per group). e–g, Example images showing mCherry+ cells (TVA expression) (e), RV-GFP+ (rabies virus encoding GFP) cells (f), and overlap revealing mCherry+/RV-GFP+ cells (starter cells; mCherry−/RV-GFP+ cells are considered local inputs) (g). h, The number of local input neurons (nonstarter; only RV-GFP+ cells per section) to each projection population, as quantified by raw neuron count and by the per cent of starter cells for each mouse, was equivalent for PFC–NAc and PFC–PVT neurons (raw neuron count: t 16 = 0.59, P = 0.56; per cent starter cells: t 16 = 0.13, P = 0.90). i, Representative image showing RV-GFP but not mCherry expression in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). j, The number of input neurons from ACC was higher for PFC–PVT neurons as compared to PFC–NAc neurons (raw neuron count: t 16 = 3.51; **P = 0.003; per cent starter cells: t 16 = 3.31, **P = 0.004). k, Representative image showing RV-GFP but not mCherry expression in the lateral pre-optic area (LPO). l, The number of input neurons from the LPO was equivalent for PFC–NAc and PFC–PVT cells (raw neuron count: t 16 = 1.77; P = 0.10; per cent starter cells: t 16 = 0.20, P = 0.84). m, Representative image showing RV-GFP but not mCherry expression in the ventral hippocampus (vHipp). n, The number of input neurons from the ventral hippocampus was higher for PFC–NAc neurons as compared with PFC–PVT neurons (raw neuron count: t 16 = 4.44; ***P < 0.001; per cent starter cells: t 16 = 4.00, **P = 0.001). o, Representative image showing RV-GFP but not mCherry expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). p, The number of input neurons from the VTA was equivalent for PFC–NAc and PFC–PVT cells (raw neuron count: t 16 = 0.56; P = 0.59; per cent starter cells: t 16 = 0.09, P = 0.93). Bar graphs represent the mean ± s.e.m. Note that no RV-GFP+ neurons were detected in any nucleus of the amygdala for either projection group.