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Abstract
The neural mechanisms underlying emotional valence are at the interface between perception and action, integrating inputs from the external environment with past experiences to guide the behavior of an organism. Depending on the positive or negative valence assigned to an environmental stimulus, the organism will approach or avoid the source of the stimulus. Multiple convergent studies have demonstrated that the amygdala complex is a critical node of the circuits assigning valence. Here we examine the current progress in identifying valence coding properties of neural populations in different nuclei of the amygdala, based on their activity, connectivity, and gene expression profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Pignatelli
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139 MA, USA
| | - Anna Beyeler
- Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM 1215, Université de Bordeaux, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, 33000 Bordeaux, France
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152
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Campbell EJ, Flanagan JPM, Walker LC, Hill MKRI, Marchant NJ, Lawrence AJ. Anterior Insular Cortex is Critical for the Propensity to Relapse Following Punishment-Imposed Abstinence of Alcohol Seeking. J Neurosci 2019; 39:1077-87. [PMID: 30509960 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1596-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans with alcohol use disorder typically abstain because of the negative consequences associated with excessive drinking, and exposure to contexts previously associated with alcohol use can trigger relapse. We used a rat model that captures a characteristic of this human condition: namely voluntary abstinence from alcohol use because of contingent punishment. There is substantial variability in the propensity to relapse following extended periods of abstinence, and this is a critical feature preventing the successful treatment of alcohol use disorder. Here we examined relapse following acute or prolonged abstinence. In male alcohol preferring P rats, we found an increased propensity to relapse in Context B, the punishment context after prolonged abstinence. Next, we found that neither alcohol intake history nor the motivational strength of alcohol predicted the propensity to relapse. We next examined the putative circuitry of context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking following prolonged abstinence using Fos as a marker of neuronal activation. The anterior insular cortex (AI) was the only brain region examined where Fos expression correlated with alcohol seeking behavior in Context B after prolonged abstinence. Finally, we used local infusion of GABAA and GABAB receptor agonists (muscimol + baclofen) to show a causal role of the AI in context-induced relapse in Context B, the punishment context after prolonged abstinence. Our results show that there is substantial individual variability in the propensity to relapse in the punishment-associated context after prolonged abstinence, and this is mediated by activity in the AI.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A key feature of alcohol use disorder is that sufferers show an enduring propensity to relapse throughout their lifetime. Relapse typically occurs despite the knowledge of adverse consequences including health complications or relationship breakdowns. Here we use a recently developed rodent model that recapitulates this behavior. After an extended period of abstinence, relapse propensity is markedly increased in the "adverse consequence" environment, akin to humans with alcohol use disorder relapsing in the face of adversity. From a circuitry perspective, we demonstrate a causal role of the anterior insular cortex in relapse to alcohol seeking after extended abstinence following punishment imposed voluntary cessation of alcohol use.
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153
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Watters AJ, Rupert PE, Wolf DH, Calkins ME, Gur RC, Gur RE, Turetsky BI. Social aversive conditioning in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis and with psychosis: An ERP study. Schizophr Res 2018; 202:291-296. [PMID: 29937326 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognition and emotion processing are compromised in schizophrenia. Disruptions in these domains may also be present during the psychosis-risk state. Aversive conditioning is an established translational research paradigm to investigate affective reactivity and learning. Using an aversive conditioning ERP paradigm with social cues, we examined whether psychosis patients and at-risk youths differentially respond to aversively conditioned faces. METHODS Participants (ages 10-30) were enrolled into three demographically-matched groups: clinical risk for psychosis (CR, n = 32), psychosis (PS, n = 26), and healthy control (HC, n = 33). EEGs were recorded during a delay aversive conditioning task in which three neutral faces were paired with an aversive tone at 100%, 50% and 0% contingencies. Analysis focused on group differences in ERP peaks representing visual processing (occipital P120), emotional valence (frontal VPP), and directed attention (parietal-occipital P300), for dimensions of aversiveness (100% vs. 0%) and unpredictability (50% vs. 100% + 0%). RESULTS HC, but not CR or PS, showed increased P300 amplitude to aversive vs. non-aversive conditioned stimuli. CR, but not PS or HC, showed increased VPP amplitude to unpredictable vs. predictable stimuli. CONCLUSIONS PS and CR both fail to allocate appropriate salience to social cues that are predictably aversive. CR, but not PS exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to social cues that are of uncertain salience. Clinical risk for schizophrenia may involve neural abnormalities distinct from both healthy and fully-established disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Watters
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Petra E Rupert
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel H Wolf
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Monica E Calkins
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ruben C Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Raquel E Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bruce I Turetsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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154
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Weele CMV, Siciliano CA, Tye KM. Dopamine tunes prefrontal outputs to orchestrate aversive processing. Brain Res 2018; 1713:16-31. [PMID: 30513287 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Decades of research suggest that the mesocortical dopamine system exerts powerful control over mPFC physiology and function. Indeed, dopamine signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is implicated in a vast array of processes, including working memory, stimulus discrimination, stress responses, and emotional and behavioral control. Consequently, even slight perturbations within this delicate system result in profound disruptions of mPFC-mediated processes. Many neuropsychiatric disorders are associated with dysregulation of mesocortical dopamine, including schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, among others. Here, we review the anatomy and functions of the mesocortical dopamine system. In contrast to the canonical role of striatal dopamine in reward-related functions, recent work has revealed that mesocortical dopamine fine-tunes distinct efferent projection populations in a manner that biases subsequent behavior towards responding to stimuli associated with potentially aversive outcomes. We propose a framework wherein dopamine can serve as a signal for switching mPFC states by orchestrating how information is routed to the rest of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Vander Weele
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Cody A Siciliano
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kay M Tye
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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155
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Vander Weele CM, Siciliano CA, Matthews GA, Namburi P, Izadmehr EM, Espinel IC, Nieh EH, Schut EHS, Padilla-Coreano N, Burgos-Robles A, Chang CJ, Kimchi EY, Beyeler A, Wichmann R, Wildes CP, Tye KM. Dopamine enhances signal-to-noise ratio in cortical-brainstem encoding of aversive stimuli. Nature 2018; 563:397-401. [PMID: 30405240 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0682-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite abundant evidence that dopamine (DA) modulates medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity to mediate diverse behavioral functions1,2, the precise circuit computations remain elusive. One potentially unifying model by which DA can underlie a diversity of functions is to modulate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in subpopulations of mPFC neurons3–6, where neural activity conveying sensory information (signal) is amplified relative to spontaneous firing (noise). Here, we demonstrate that DA increases the SNR of responses to aversive stimuli in mPFC neurons projecting to the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG). Using electrochemical approaches, we reveal the precise time course of pinch-evoked DA release in the mPFC, and show that mPFC DA biases behavioral responses to aversive stimuli. Activation of mPFC-dPAG neurons is sufficient to drive place avoidance and defensive behaviors. mPFC-dPAG neurons displayed robust shock-induced excitations, as visualized by single-cell, projection-defined microendoscopic calcium imaging. Finally, photostimulation of DA terminals in the mPFC revealed an increase in SNR in mPFC-dPAG responses to aversive stimuli. Together, these data highlight how mPFC DA can route sensory information in a valence-specific manner to different downstream circuits.
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156
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Currier TA, Nagel KI. Multisensory Control of Orientation in Tethered Flying Drosophila. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3533-3546.e6. [PMID: 30393038 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A longstanding goal of systems neuroscience is to quantitatively describe how the brain integrates sensory cues over time. Here, we develop a closed-loop orienting paradigm in Drosophila to study the algorithms by which cues from two modalities are integrated during ongoing behavior. We find that flies exhibit two behaviors when presented simultaneously with an attractive visual stripe and aversive wind cue. First, flies perform a turn sequence where they initially turn away from the wind but later turn back toward the stripe, suggesting dynamic sensory processing. Second, turns toward the stripe are slowed by the presence of competing wind, suggesting summation of turning drives. We develop a model in which signals from each modality are filtered in space and time to generate turn commands and then summed to produce ongoing orienting behavior. This computational framework correctly predicts behavioral dynamics for a range of stimulus intensities and spatial arrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Currier
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Medical Center, 435 E. 30(th) Street, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Katherine I Nagel
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Medical Center, 435 E. 30(th) Street, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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157
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Gee DG, Bath KG, Johnson CM, Meyer HC, Murty VP, van den Bos W, Hartley CA. Neurocognitive Development of Motivated Behavior: Dynamic Changes across Childhood and Adolescence. J Neurosci 2018; 38:9433-9445. [PMID: 30381435 PMCID: PMC6209847 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1674-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to anticipate and respond appropriately to the challenges and opportunities present in our environments is critical for adaptive behavior. Recent methodological innovations have led to substantial advances in our understanding of the neurocircuitry supporting such motivated behavior in adulthood. However, the neural circuits and cognitive processes that enable threat- and reward-motivated behavior undergo substantive changes over the course of development, and these changes are less well understood. In this article, we highlight recent research in human and animal models demonstrating how developmental changes in prefrontal-subcortical neural circuits give rise to corresponding changes in the processing of threats and rewards from infancy to adulthood. We discuss how these developmental trajectories are altered by experiential factors, such as early-life stress, and highlight the relevance of this research for understanding the developmental onset and treatment of psychiatric disorders characterized by dysregulation of motivated behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan G Gee
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520,
| | - Kevin G Bath
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Carolyn M Johnson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Heidi C Meyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Vishnu P Murty
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122
| | - Wouter van den Bos
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and
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158
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Tipps M, Marron Fernandez de Velasco E, Schaeffer A, Wickman K. Inhibition of Pyramidal Neurons in the Basal Amygdala Promotes Fear Learning. eNeuro 2018; 5:ENEURO. [PMID: 30406197 DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0272-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala complex, which contains the lateral (LA) and basal (BA) subnuclei, is a critical substrate of associative learning related to reward and aversive stimuli. Auditory fear conditioning studies in rodents have shown that the excitation of LA pyramidal neurons, driven by the inhibition of local GABAergic interneurons, is critical to fear memory formation. Studies examining the role of the BA in auditory fear conditioning, however, have yielded divergent outcomes. Here, we used a neuron-specific chemogenetic approach to manipulate the excitability of mouse BA neurons during auditory fear conditioning. We found that chemogenetic inhibition of BA GABA neurons, but not BA pyramidal neurons, impaired fear learning. Further, either chemogenetic stimulation of BA GABA neurons or chemogenetic inhibition of BA pyramidal neurons was sufficient to generate the formation of an association between a behavior and a neutral auditory cue. This chemogenetic memory required presentation of a discrete cue, and was not attributable to an effect of BA pyramidal neuron inhibition on general freezing behavior, locomotor activity, or anxiety. Collectively, these data suggest that BA GABA neuron activation and the subsequent inhibition of BA pyramidal neurons play important role in fear learning. Moreover, the roles of inhibitory signaling differ between the LA and BA, with excitation of pyramidal neurons promoting memory formation in the former, and inhibition of pyramidal neurons playing this role in the latter.
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159
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Abstract
Associative learning forms when there is temporal relationship between a stimulus and a reinforcer, yet the inter-trial-interval (ITI), which is usually much longer than the stimulus-reinforcer-interval, contributes to learning-rate and memory strength. The neural mechanisms that enable maintenance of time between trials remain unknown, and it is unclear if the amygdala can support time scales at the order of dozens of seconds. We show that the ITI indeed modulates rate and strength of aversive-learning, and that single-units in the primate amygdala and dorsal-anterior-cingulate-cortex signal confined periods within the ITI, strengthen this coding during acquisition of aversive-associations, and diminish during extinction. Additionally, pairs of amygdala-cingulate neurons synchronize during specific periods suggesting a shared circuit that maintains the long temporal gap. The results extend the known roles of this circuit and suggest a mechanism that maintains trial-structure and temporal-contingencies for learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryeh H Taub
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Yosef Shohat
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Rony Paz
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
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160
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Zingg B, Dong HW, Tao HW, Zhang LI. Input-output organization of the mouse claustrum. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2428-2443. [PMID: 30252130 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Progress in determining the precise organization and function of the claustrum (CLA) has been hindered by the difficulty in reliably targeting these neurons. To overcome this, we used a projection-based targeting strategy to selectively label CLA principal neurons. Combined with adeno-associated virus (AAV) and monosynaptic rabies tracing techniques, we systematically examined the pre-synaptic input and axonal output of this structure. We found that CLA neurons projecting to retrosplenial cortex (RSP) collateralize extensively to innervate a variety of higher-order cortical regions. No subcortical labeling was found, with the exception of sparse terminals in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). This pattern of output was similar to cingulate- and visual cortex-projecting CLA neurons, suggesting a common targeting scheme among these projection-defined populations. Rabies virus tracing directly demonstrated widespread synaptic inputs to RSP-projecting CLA neurons from both cortical and subcortical areas. The strongest inputs arose from classically defined limbic regions, including medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, BLA, ventral hippocampus, and neuromodulatory systems such as the dorsal raphe and cholinergic basal forebrain. These results suggest that the CLA may integrate information related to the emotional salience of stimuli and may globally modulate cortical state by broadcasting its output uniformly across a variety of higher cognitive centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Zingg
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Hong-Wei Dong
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Huizhong Whit Tao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Li I Zhang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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161
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Abstract
A decision to eat or not to eat can be beneficial or detrimental to an organism, depending on internal and external conditions. Because feeding is essential for survival, as it replenishes energy and nutrients, in safe environments, its expression is prioritized over other behaviors. Under threat, responding to danger is a higher priority for survival and feeding is paused even in hungry states. Thus, successful expression of feeding behavior requires adaptive control that utilizes cognitive processes to dynamically assess and update internal drives and environmental changes. Recently identified key circuit components, which are important in anticipatory responding based on food memories and predictions and in resolving feeding versus threat avoidance competition, will be discussed within a connectional schema.
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162
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Sani OG, Yang Y, Lee MB, Dawes HE, Chang EF, Shanechi MM. Mood variations decoded from multi-site intracranial human brain activity. Nat Biotechnol 2018; 36:954-61. [DOI: 10.1038/nbt.4200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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163
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Lowery-Gionta EG, Crowley NA, Bukalo O, Silverstein S, Holmes A, Kash TL. Chronic stress dysregulates amygdalar output to the prefrontal cortex. Neuropharmacology 2018; 139:68-75. [PMID: 29959957 PMCID: PMC6067970 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress contributes to the neuropathology of mental health disorders, including those associated with anxiety. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) coordinates emotional behavioral responses through glutamatergic outputs to downstream regions such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). We explored the effects of chronic stress on BLA outputs to the PFC, NAcc and BNST using slice electrophysiology combined with optogenetics in two inbred mouse strains with distinct stress-induced anxiety responses. We found that ten consecutive days of chronic restraint stress enhanced pre-synaptic glutamate release at BLA-to-PFC synapses in C57BL/6J mice, but reduced pre-synaptic glutamate release at these synapses in DBA/2J mice. To assess the behavioral relevance of enhanced glutamate output at BLA-to-PFC synapses, we approximated the effects of chronic stress on the BLA-PFC circuit using optogenetics. We found that photostimulation of the BLA-PFC circuit in unstressed C57BL/6J mice produced persistent (i.e., post-stimulation) increased anxiety-like behavior and hyperactivity in the elevated plus-maze - a profile consistent with prototypical behavioral responses of stressed C57BL/6J mice. These data demonstrate that chronic stress dysregulates the BLA-PFC circuit by altering pre-synaptic glutamate release from BLA outputs, and provide a mechanism by which chronic stress can lead to increased anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G Lowery-Gionta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Thurston Bowles Building 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Nicole A Crowley
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Thurston Bowles Building 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Olena Bukalo
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5625 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD, 20852-9411, USA
| | - Shana Silverstein
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5625 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD, 20852-9411, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5625 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD, 20852-9411, USA
| | - Thomas Louis Kash
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Thurston Bowles Building 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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164
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Kyriazi P, Headley DB, Pare D. Multi-dimensional Coding by Basolateral Amygdala Neurons. Neuron 2018; 99:1315-1328.e5. [PMID: 30146300 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Conditioned appetitive and aversive responses (CRs) are thought to result from the activation of specific subsets of valence-coding basolateral amygdala (BLA) neurons. Under this model, the responses of BLA cells to conditioned stimuli (CSs) and the activity that drives CRs are closely related. We tested the strength of this correlation using a task where rats could emit different CRs in response to the same CSs. At odds with this model, the CS responses and CR-related activity of individual BLA cells were separable. Moreover, while the incidence of valence-coding cells did not exceed chance, at the population level there was similarity between valence coding for CSs and CRs. In fact, both lateral and basolateral neurons concurrently encoded multiple task features and behaviors. Thus, conditioned emotional behaviors may not depend on the recruitment of single cells that explicitly encode individual task variables but from multiplexed representations distributed across the BLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinelopi Kyriazi
- Behavioral and Neural Sciences Graduate Program, Rutgers State University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Drew B Headley
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
| | - Denis Pare
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
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165
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Abstract
Animals constantly evaluate their environment in order to avoid potential threats and obtain reward in the form of food, shelter and social interactions. In order to appropriately respond to sensory cues from the environment, the brain needs to form and store multiple cue-outcome associations. These can then be used to form predictions of the valence of sounds, smells and other sensory inputs arising from the surroundings. However, these associations must be subject to constant update, as the environment can rapidly change. Failing to adapt to such change can be detrimental to survival. Several systems in the mammalian brain have evolved to perform these important behavioral functions. Among these systems, the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are prominent players. Although the amygdala has been shown to form strong cue-outcome associations, the prefrontal cortex is essential for modifying these associations through extinction and reversal learning, and synaptic plasticity occurring in the strong reciprocal connections between these structures is thought to underlie both adaptive and maladaptive learning. Here we review the synaptic organization of the amygdala-prefrontal circuit, and summarize the physiological and behavioral evidence for its involvement in appetitive and aversive learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofer Yizhar
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Oded Klavir
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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166
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Raij T, Nummenmaa A, Marin MF, Porter D, Furtak S, Setsompop K, Milad MR. Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation Enhances Fear Extinction Memory in Humans. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:129-137. [PMID: 29246436 PMCID: PMC5936658 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal fear conditioning studies have illuminated neuronal mechanisms of learned associations between sensory stimuli and fear responses. In rats, brief electrical stimulation of the infralimbic cortex has been shown to reduce conditioned freezing during recall of extinction memory. Here, we translated this finding to humans with magnetic resonance imaging-navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). METHODS Subjects (N = 28) were aversively conditioned to two different cues (day 1). During extinction learning (day 2), TMS was paired with one of the conditioned cues but not the other. TMS parameters were similar to those used in rat infralimbic cortex: brief pulse trains (300 ms at 20 Hz) starting 100 ms after cue onset, total of four trains (28 TMS pulses). TMS was applied to one of two targets in the left frontal cortex, one functionally connected (target 1) and the other unconnected (target 2, control) with a human homologue of infralimbic cortex in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Skin conductance responses were used as an index of conditioned fear. RESULTS During extinction recall (day 3), the cue paired with TMS to target 1 showed significantly reduced skin conductance responses, whereas TMS to target 2 had no effect. Further, we built group-level maps that weighted TMS-induced electric fields and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging connectivity estimates with fear level. These maps revealed distinct cortical regions and large-scale networks associated with reduced versus increased fear. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that spatiotemporally focused TMS may enhance extinction learning and/or consolidation of extinction memory and suggested novel cortical areas and large-scale networks for targeting in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommi Raij
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital/Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Charlestown, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Aapo Nummenmaa
- MGH/MIT/HMS Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, MA, USA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie-France Marin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,MGH Department of Psychiatry, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Kawin Setsompop
- MGH/MIT/HMS Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, MA, USA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mohammed R. Milad
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,MGH Department of Psychiatry, MA, USA
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167
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Godoy LD, Rossignoli MT, Delfino-Pereira P, Garcia-Cairasco N, de Lima Umeoka EH. A Comprehensive Overview on Stress Neurobiology: Basic Concepts and Clinical Implications. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:127. [PMID: 30034327 PMCID: PMC6043787 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is recognized as an important issue in basic and clinical neuroscience research, based upon the founding historical studies by Walter Canon and Hans Selye in the past century, when the concept of stress emerged in a biological and adaptive perspective. A lot of research after that period has expanded the knowledge in the stress field. Since then, it was discovered that the response to stressful stimuli is elaborated and triggered by the, now known, stress system, which integrates a wide diversity of brain structures that, collectively, are able to detect events and interpret them as real or potential threats. However, different types of stressors engage different brain networks, requiring a fine-tuned functional neuroanatomical processing. This integration of information from the stressor itself may result in a rapid activation of the Sympathetic-Adreno-Medullar (SAM) axis and the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, the two major components involved in the stress response. The complexity of the stress response is not restricted to neuroanatomy or to SAM and HPA axes mediators, but also diverge according to timing and duration of stressor exposure, as well as its short- and/or long-term consequences. The identification of neuronal circuits of stress, as well as their interaction with mediator molecules over time is critical, not only for understanding the physiological stress responses, but also to understand their implications on mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívea Dornela Godoy
- Physiology Department, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus Teixeira Rossignoli
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Polianna Delfino-Pereira
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Norberto Garcia-Cairasco
- Physiology Department, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Henrique de Lima Umeoka
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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168
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Hennessey T, Andari E, Rainnie DG. RDoC-based categorization of amygdala functions and its implications in autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 90:115-129. [PMID: 29660417 PMCID: PMC6250055 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Confusion endures as to the exact role of the amygdala in relation to autism. To help resolve this we turned to the NIMH's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) which provides a classification schema that identifies different categories of behaviors that can turn pathologic in mental health disorders, e.g. autism. While RDoC incorporates all the known neurobiological substrates for each domain, this review will focus primarily on the amygdala. We first consider the amygdala from an anatomical, historical, and developmental perspective. Next, we examine the different domains and constructs of RDoC that the amygdala is involved in: Negative Valence Systems, Positive Valence Systems, Cognitive Systems, Social Processes, and Arousal and Regulatory Systems. Then the evidence for a dysfunctional amygdala in autism is presented with a focus on alterations in development, prenatal valproic acid exposure as a model for ASD, and changes in the oxytocin system therein. Finally, a synthesis of RDoC, the amygdala, and autism is offered, emphasizing the task of disambiguation and suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hennessey
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30329, United States
| | - Elissar Andari
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30329, United States.
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169
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Cisneros-Franco JM, de Villers-Sidani E. Bidirectional Control of Risk-Seeking Behavior by the Basolateral Amygdala. eNeuro 2018; 5:ENEURO.0168-18.2018. [PMID: 30079372 PMCID: PMC6072332 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0168-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. Miguel Cisneros-Franco
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
- Centre for Research on Brain, Language, and Music, Montreal, QC H3G 2A8, Canada
| | - Etienne de Villers-Sidani
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
- Centre for Research on Brain, Language, and Music, Montreal, QC H3G 2A8, Canada
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170
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Abstract
Great progress has been made in our understanding of how so-called memory engrams in the brain enable the storage and retrieval of memories. This has led to the realization that across the lifetime of an animal, the spatial and temporal properties of a memory engram are not fixed, but instead are subjected to dynamic modifications that can be both dependent and independent on additional experiences. The dynamic nature of engrams is especially relevant in the case of fear memories, whose contributions to an animal's evolutionary fitness depend on a delicate balance of stability and flexibility. Though fear memories have the potential to last a lifetime, their expression also needs to be properly tuned to prevent maladaptive behavior, such as seen in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. To achieve this balance, fear engrams are subjected to complex spatiotemporal dynamics, making them informative examples of the "dynamic engram". In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the dynamic nature of fear engrams in the basolateral amygdala, a brain region that plays a central role in fear memory encoding and expression. We propose that this understanding can be further advanced by studying how fast dynamics, such as oscillatory circuit activity, support the storage and retrieval of fear engrams that can be stable over long time intervals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Davis
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program and Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Leon G Reijmers
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
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171
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Diehl MM, Bravo-Rivera C, Rodriguez-Romaguera J, Pagan-Rivera PA, Burgos-Robles A, Roman-Ortiz C, Quirk GJ. Active avoidance requires inhibitory signaling in the rodent prelimbic prefrontal cortex. eLife 2018; 7:34657. [PMID: 29851381 PMCID: PMC5980229 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Much is known about the neural circuits of conditioned fear and its relevance to understanding anxiety disorders, but less is known about other anxiety-related behaviors such as active avoidance. Using a tone-signaled, platform-mediated avoidance task, we observed that pharmacological inactivation of the prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PL) delayed avoidance. Surprisingly, optogenetic silencing of PL glutamatergic neurons did not delay avoidance. Consistent with this, inhibitory but not excitatory responses of rostral PL neurons were associated with avoidance training. To test the importance of these inhibitory responses, we optogenetically stimulated PL neurons to counteract the tone-elicited reduction in firing rate. Photoactivation of rostral (but not caudal) PL neurons at 4 Hz impaired avoidance. These findings suggest that inhibitory responses of rostral PL neurons signal the avoidability of a potential threat and underscore the importance of designing behavioral optogenetic studies based on neuronal firing responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Diehl
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Christian Bravo-Rivera
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Pablo A Pagan-Rivera
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Anthony Burgos-Robles
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Ciorana Roman-Ortiz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Gregory J Quirk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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172
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Allsop SA, Wichmann R, Mills F, Burgos-Robles A, Chang CJ, Felix-Ortiz AC, Vienne A, Beyeler A, Izadmehr EM, Glober G, Cum MI, Stergiadou J, Anandalingam KK, Farris K, Namburi P, Leppla CA, Weddington JC, Nieh EH, Smith AC, Ba D, Brown EN, Tye KM. Corticoamygdala Transfer of Socially Derived Information Gates Observational Learning. Cell 2018; 173:1329-1342.e18. [PMID: 29731170 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Observational learning is a powerful survival tool allowing individuals to learn about threat-predictive stimuli without directly experiencing the pairing of the predictive cue and punishment. This ability has been linked to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA). To investigate how information is encoded and transmitted through this circuit, we performed electrophysiological recordings in mice observing a demonstrator mouse undergo associative fear conditioning and found that BLA-projecting ACC (ACC→BLA) neurons preferentially encode socially derived aversive cue information. Inhibition of ACC→BLA alters real-time amygdala representation of the aversive cue during observational conditioning. Selective inhibition of the ACC→BLA projection impaired acquisition, but not expression, of observational fear conditioning. We show that information derived from observation about the aversive value of the cue is transmitted from the ACC to the BLA and that this routing of information is critically instructive for observational fear conditioning. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Allsop
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Romy Wichmann
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Fergil Mills
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anthony Burgos-Robles
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Chia-Jung Chang
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ada C Felix-Ortiz
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alienor Vienne
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anna Beyeler
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ehsan M Izadmehr
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Gordon Glober
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Meghan I Cum
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Johanna Stergiadou
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kavitha K Anandalingam
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kathryn Farris
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Praneeth Namburi
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Christopher A Leppla
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Javier C Weddington
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Edward H Nieh
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anne C Smith
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Demba Ba
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Emery N Brown
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kay M Tye
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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173
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Kim EJ, Kong MS, Park SG, Mizumori SJY, Cho J, Kim JJ. Dynamic coding of predatory information between the prelimbic cortex and lateral amygdala in foraging rats. Sci Adv 2018; 4:eaar7328. [PMID: 29675471 PMCID: PMC5906073 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar7328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Predation is considered a major selective pressure in the evolution of fear, but the neurophysiology of predator-induced fear is unknown. We simultaneously recorded lateral amygdala (LA) and prelimbic (PL) area neuronal activities as rats exited a safe nest to search for food in an open space before, during, and after encountering a "predator" robot programmed to surge from afar. Distinct populations of LA neurons transiently increased spiking as rats either advanced or fled the robot, whereas PL neurons showed longer-lasting spike trains that preceded and persisted beyond LA activity. Moreover, discrete LA-PL cell pairs displayed correlated firings only when the animals either approached or fled the robot. These results suggest a general fear function of the LA-PL circuit where the PL participates in the initial detection of potential threats, the LA signals the occurrence of real threats, and the dynamic LA-PL interaction optimizes defensive readiness for action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Joo Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–1525, USA
| | - Mi-Seon Kong
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–1525, USA
| | - Sang Geon Park
- Neuroscience Program, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sheri J. Y. Mizumori
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–1525, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–1525, USA
| | - Jeiwon Cho
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do 25601, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Bio-Medical Convergence, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeansok J. Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–1525, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–1525, USA
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174
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O'Neill PK, Gore F, Salzman CD. Basolateral amygdala circuitry in positive and negative valence. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 49:175-183. [PMID: 29525574 PMCID: PMC6138049 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
All organisms must solve the same fundamental problem: they must acquire rewards and avoid danger in order to survive. A key challenge for the nervous system is therefore to connect motivationally salient sensory stimuli to neural circuits that engage appropriate valence-specific behavioral responses. Anatomical, behavioral, and electrophysiological data have long suggested that the amygdala plays a central role in this process. Here we review experimental efforts leveraging recent technological advances to provide previously unattainable insights into the functional, anatomical, and genetic identity of neural populations within the amygdala that connect sensory stimuli to valence-specific behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia-Kelsey O'Neill
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive Unit 87, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Felicity Gore
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - C Daniel Salzman
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive Unit 87, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive Unit 87, New York, NY 10032, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive Unit 87, New York, NY 10032, USA; Kavli Institute for Brain Sciences, 1051 Riverside Drive Unit 87, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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175
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Grunfeld IS, Likhtik E. Mixed selectivity encoding and action selection in the prefrontal cortex during threat assessment. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 49:108-115. [PMID: 29454957 PMCID: PMC5889962 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regulates expression of emotional behavior. The mPFC combines multivariate information from its inputs, and depending on the imminence of threat, activates downstream networks that either increase or decrease the expression of anxiety-related motor behavior and autonomic activation. Here, we selectively highlight how subcortical input to the mPFC from two example structures, the amygdala and ventral hippocampus, help shape mixed selectivity encoding and action selection during emotional processing. We outline a model where prefrontal subregions modulate behavior along orthogonal motor dimensions, and exhibit connectivity that selects for expression of one behavioral strategy while inhibiting the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itamar S Grunfeld
- Biology Department, Hunter College, CUNY, United States; Neuroscience Collaborative, The Graduate Center, CUNY, United States
| | - Ekaterina Likhtik
- Biology Department, Hunter College, CUNY, United States; Neuroscience Collaborative, The Graduate Center, CUNY, United States.
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176
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177
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Campbell EJ, Marchant NJ. The use of chemogenetics in behavioural neuroscience: receptor variants, targeting approaches and caveats. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:994-1003. [PMID: 29338070 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The last decade has seen major advances in neuroscience tools allowing us to selectively modulate cellular pathways in freely moving animals. Chemogenetic approaches such as designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) permit the remote control of neuronal function by systemic drug administration. These approaches have dramatically advanced our understanding of the neural control of behaviour. Here, we review the different techniques and genetic approaches available for the restriction of chemogenetic receptors to defined neuronal populations. We highlight the use of a dual virus approach to target specific circuitries and the effectiveness of different routes of administration of designer drugs. Finally, we discuss the potential caveats associated with DREADDs including off-target effects of designer drugs, the effects of chronic chemogenetic receptor activation and the issue of collateral projections associated with DREADD activation and inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin J Campbell
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Nathan J Marchant
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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178
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Beyeler A, Chang CJ, Silvestre M, Lévêque C, Namburi P, Wildes CP, Tye KM. Organization of Valence-Encoding and Projection-Defined Neurons in the Basolateral Amygdala. Cell Rep 2018; 22:905-918. [PMID: 29386133 PMCID: PMC5891824 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.12.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) mediates associative learning for both
fear and reward. Accumulating evidence supports the notion that different BLA
projections distinctly alter motivated behavior, including projections to the
nucleus accumbens (NAc), medial aspect of the central amygdala (CeM), and
ventral hippocampus (vHPC). Although there is consensus regarding the existence
of distinct subsets of BLA neurons encoding positive or negative valence,
controversy remains regarding the anatomical arrangement of these populations.
First, we map the location of more than 1,000 neurons distributed across the BLA
and recorded during a Pavlovian discrimination task. Next, we determine the
location of projection-defined neurons labeled with retrograde tracers and use
CLARITY to reveal the axonal path in 3-dimensional space. Finally, we examine
the local influence of each projection-defined populations within the BLA.
Understanding the functional and topographical organization of circuits
underlying valence assignment could reveal fundamental principles about
emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Beyeler
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM, U1215, University of Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33077 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
| | - Chia-Jung Chang
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Margaux Silvestre
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Clémentine Lévêque
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Praneeth Namburi
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Craig P Wildes
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kay M Tye
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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179
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Bolton JL, Molet J, Regev L, Chen Y, Rismanchi N, Haddad E, Yang DZ, Obenaus A, Baram TZ. Anhedonia Following Early-Life Adversity Involves Aberrant Interaction of Reward and Anxiety Circuits and Is Reversed by Partial Silencing of Amygdala Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:137-147. [PMID: 29033027 PMCID: PMC5723546 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anhedonia, the diminished ability to experience pleasure, is an important dimensional entity linked to depression, schizophrenia, and other emotional disorders, but its origins and mechanisms are poorly understood. We have previously identified anhedonia, manifest as decreased sucrose preference and social play, in adolescent male rats that experienced chronic early-life adversity/stress (CES). Here we probed the molecular, cellular, and circuit processes underlying CES-induced anhedonia and tested them mechanistically. METHODS We examined functional brain circuits and neuronal populations activated by social play in adolescent CES and control rats. Structural connectivity between stress- and reward-related networks was probed using high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging, and cellular/regional activation was probed using c-Fos. We employed viral-genetic approaches to reduce corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala in anhedonic rats, and tested for anhedonia reversal in the same animals. RESULTS Sucrose preference was reduced in adolescent CES rats. Social play, generally considered an independent measure of pleasure, activated brain regions involved in reward circuitry in both control and CES groups. In CES rats, social play activated Crh-expressing neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala, typically involved in anxiety/fear, indicating aberrant functional connectivity of pleasure/reward and fear circuits. Diffusion tensor imaging tractography revealed increased structural connectivity of the amygdala to the medial prefrontal cortex in CES rats. Crh-short hairpin RNA, but not control short hairpin RNA, given into the central nucleus of the amygdala reversed CES-induced anhedonia without influencing other emotional measures. CONCLUSIONS These findings robustly demonstrate aberrant interactions of stress and reward networks after early-life adversity and suggest mechanistic roles for Crh-expressing amygdala neurons in emotional deficits portending major neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Bolton
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California- Irvine,Department of Pediatrics, University of California- Irvine
| | - Jenny Molet
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California- Irvine,Department of Pediatrics, University of California- Irvine
| | - Limor Regev
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California- Irvine
| | - Yuncai Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California- Irvine
| | - Neggy Rismanchi
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California- Irvine
| | | | - Derek Z. Yang
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California- Irvine
| | - Andre Obenaus
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California- Irvine
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California- Irvine,Department of Pediatrics, University of California- Irvine,Corresponding Author: Tallie Z. Baram, MD, PhD, Pediatrics and Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Medical Sciences I, ZOT: 4475, Irvine, CA 92697-4475, USA, Tel: 949.824.6478; Fax: 949.824.1106;
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180
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Taub AH, Perets R, Kahana E, Paz R. Oscillations Synchronize Amygdala-to-Prefrontal Primate Circuits during Aversive Learning. Neuron 2018; 97:291-298.e3. [PMID: 29290553 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of oscillatory synchrony in the primate amygdala-prefrontal pathway to aversive learning remains largely unknown. We found increased power and phase synchrony in the theta range during aversive conditioning. The synchrony was linked to single-unit spiking and exhibited specific directionality between input and output measures in each region. Although it was correlated with the magnitude of conditioned responses, it declined once the association stabilized. The results suggest that amygdala spikes help to synchronize ACC activity and transfer error signal information to support memory formation.
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181
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Casey BJ, Heller AS, Gee DG, Cohen AO. Development of the emotional brain. Neurosci Lett 2019; 693:29-34. [PMID: 29197573 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we highlight the importance of dynamic reorganization of neural circuitry during adolescence, as it relates to the development of emotion reactivity and regulation. We offer a neurobiological account of hierarchical, circuit-based changes that coincide with emotional development during this time. Recent imaging studies suggest that the development of the emotional brain involves a cascade of changes in limbic and cognitive control circuitry. These changes are particularly pronounced during adolescence, when the demand for self regulation across a variety of emotional and social situations may be greatest. We propose that hierarchical changes in circuitry, from subcortico-subcortical to subcortico-cortical to cortico-subcortical and finally to cortico-cortical, may underlie the gradual changes in emotion reactivity and regulation throughout adolescence into young adulthood, with changes at each level being necessary for the instantiation of changes at the next level.
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182
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Davis P, Zaki Y, Maguire J, Reijmers LG. Cellular and oscillatory substrates of fear extinction learning. Nat Neurosci 2017; 20:1624-1633. [PMID: 28967909 PMCID: PMC5940487 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian brain contains dedicated circuits for both the learned expression and suppression of fear. These circuits require precise coordination to facilitate the appropriate expression of fear behavior, but the mechanisms underlying this coordination remain unclear. Using a novel combination of chemogenetics, activity-based neuronal-ensemble labeling, and in vivo electrophysiology, we found that fear extinction learning confers parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) with a dedicated role in the selective suppression of a previously encoded fear memory and BLA fear-encoding neurons. In addition, following extinction learning, PV interneurons enable a competing interaction between a 6–12 Hz oscillation and a fear-associated 3–6 Hz oscillation within the BLA. Loss of this competition increases a 3–6 Hz oscillatory signature, with BLA→mPFC directionality signaling the recurrence of fear expression. The discovery of cellular and oscillatory substrates of fear extinction learning that critically depend on BLA PV-interneurons could inform therapies aimed at preventing the pathological recurrence of fear following extinction learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Davis
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program and Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yosif Zaki
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jamie Maguire
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Leon G Reijmers
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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183
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McCall JG, Siuda ER, Bhatti DL, Lawson LA, McElligott ZA, Stuber GD, Bruchas MR. Locus coeruleus to basolateral amygdala noradrenergic projections promote anxiety-like behavior. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28708061 PMCID: PMC5550275 DOI: 10.7554/elife.18247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased tonic activity of locus coeruleus noradrenergic (LC-NE) neurons induces anxiety-like and aversive behavior. While some information is known about the afferent circuitry that endogenously drives this neural activity and behavior, the downstream receptors and anatomical projections that mediate these acute risk aversive behavioral states via the LC-NE system remain unresolved. Here we use a combination of retrograde tracing, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, electrophysiology, and in vivo optogenetics with localized pharmacology to identify neural substrates downstream of increased tonic LC-NE activity in mice. We demonstrate that photostimulation of LC-NE fibers in the BLA evokes norepinephrine release in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), alters BLA neuronal activity, conditions aversion, and increases anxiety-like behavior. Additionally, we report that β-adrenergic receptors mediate the anxiety-like phenotype of increased NE release in the BLA. These studies begin to illustrate how the complex efferent system of the LC-NE system selectively mediates behavior through distinct receptor and projection-selective mechanisms. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.18247.001
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan G McCall
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Basic Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Edward R Siuda
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Basic Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Dionnet L Bhatti
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Basic Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Lamley A Lawson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Basic Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Zoe A McElligott
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States.,Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Garret D Stuber
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States.,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Basic Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, United States
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