1
|
Tanner MK, Hohorst AA, Westerman JD, Mendoza CS, Han R, Moya NA, Jaime J, Alvarez LM, Dryden MQ, Balolia A, Abdul RA, Loetz EC, Greenwood BN. Pharmacological manipulations of the dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum during fear extinction reveal opposing roles in fear renewal. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 212:107937. [PMID: 38735637 PMCID: PMC11187715 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Systemic manipulations that enhance dopamine (DA) transmission around the time of fear extinction can strengthen fear extinction and reduce conditioned fear relapse. Prior studies investigating the brain regions where DA augments fear extinction focus on targets of mesolimbic and mesocortical DA systems originating in the ventral tegmental area, given the role of these DA neurons in prediction error. The dorsal striatum (DS), a primary target of the nigrostriatal DA system originating in the substantia nigra (SN), is implicated in behaviors beyond its canonical role in movement, such as reward and punishment, goal-directed action, and stimulus-response associations, but whether DS DA contributes to fear extinction is unknown. We have observed that chemogenetic stimulation of SN DA neurons during fear extinction prevents the return of fear in contexts different from the extinction context, a form of relapse called renewal. This effect of SN DA stimulation is mimicked by a DA D1 receptor (D1R) agonist injected into the DS, thus implicating DS DA in fear extinction. Different DS subregions subserve unique functions of the DS, but it is unclear where in the DS D1R agonist acts during fear extinction to reduce renewal. Furthermore, although fear extinction increases neural activity in DS subregions, whether neural activity in DS subregions is causally involved in fear extinction is unknown. To explore the role of DS subregions in fear extinction, adult, male Long-Evans rats received microinjections of either the D1R agonist SKF38393 or a cocktail consisting of GABAA/GABAB receptor agonists muscimol/baclofen selectively into either dorsomedial (DMS) or dorsolateral (DLS) DS subregions immediately prior to fear extinction, and extinction retention and renewal were subsequently assessed drug-free. While increasing D1R signaling in the DMS during fear extinction did not impact fear extinction retention or renewal, DMS inactivation reduced later renewal. In contrast, DLS inactivation had no effect on fear extinction retention or renewal but increasing D1R signaling in the DLS during extinction reduced fear renewal. These data suggest that DMS and DLS activity during fear extinction can have opposing effects on later fear renewal, with the DMS promoting renewal and the DLS opposing renewal. Mechanisms through which the DS could influence the contextual gating of fear extinction are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret K Tanner
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Alyssa A Hohorst
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Rebecca Han
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Nicolette A Moya
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jennifer Jaime
- The Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lareina M Alvarez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Miles Q Dryden
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Aleezah Balolia
- Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Remla A Abdul
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Esteban C Loetz
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lei L, Lai CSW, Lee TMC, Lam CLM. The effect of transcranial direct current and magnetic stimulation on fear extinction and return of fear: A meta-analysis and systematic review. J Affect Disord 2024; 362:263-286. [PMID: 38908557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We conducted a meta-analysis and qualitative review on the randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation on fear extinction and the return of fear in non-primate animals and humans. METHODS The meta-analysis was conducted by searching PubMed, Web of science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library and extracting fear response in the active and sham groups in the randomized controlled trials. The pooled effect size was quantified by Hedges' g using a three-level meta-analytic model in R. RESULTS We identified 18 articles on the tDCS effect and 5 articles on the TMS effect, with 466 animal subjects and 621 human subjects. Our findings show that tDCS of the prefrontal cortex significantly inhibit fear retrieval in animal models (Hedges' g = -0.50). In human studies, TMS targeting the dorsolateral/ventromedial prefrontal cortex has an inhibiting effect on the return of fear (Hedges' g = -0.24). LIMITATIONS The limited number of studies and the heterogeneous designs of the selected studies made cross-study and cross-species comparison difficult. CONCLUSIONS Our findings shed light on the optimal non-invasive brain stimulation protocols for targeting the neural circuitry of threat extinction in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Letian Lei
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory of Clinical Psychology and Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cora S W Lai
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Charlene L M Lam
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory of Clinical Psychology and Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Higa GSV, Viana FJC, Francis-Oliveira J, Cruvinel E, Franchin TS, Marcourakis T, Ulrich H, De Pasquale R. Serotonergic neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity. Neuropharmacology 2024; 257:110036. [PMID: 38876308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity constitutes a fundamental process in the reorganization of neural networks that underlie memory, cognition, emotional responses, and behavioral planning. At the core of this phenomenon lie Hebbian mechanisms, wherein frequent synaptic stimulation induces long-term potentiation (LTP), while less activation leads to long-term depression (LTD). The synaptic reorganization of neuronal networks is regulated by serotonin (5-HT), a neuromodulator capable of modify synaptic plasticity to appropriately respond to mental and behavioral states, such as alertness, attention, concentration, motivation, and mood. Lately, understanding the serotonergic Neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity has become imperative for unraveling its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. Through a comparative analysis across three main forebrain structures-the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, this review discusses the actions of 5-HT on synaptic plasticity, offering insights into its role as a neuromodulator involved in emotional and cognitive functions. By distinguishing between plastic and metaplastic effects, we provide a comprehensive overview about the mechanisms of 5-HT neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity and associated functions across different brain regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Shigueto Vilar Higa
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Felipe José Costa Viana
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - José Francis-Oliveira
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Emily Cruvinel
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Thainá Soares Franchin
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Tania Marcourakis
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química (USP), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto De Pasquale
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade de São Paulo, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dubey H, Ray A, Dubey A, Gulati K. S-Nitrosoglutathione Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Improves Retention Memory Dysfunctions in Intra-Cerebroventricular-Streptozotocin Rat Model of Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease via Activation of BDNF and Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor-2 Antioxidant Signaling Pathway. Neuropsychobiology 2024; 83:101-113. [PMID: 38744261 DOI: 10.1159/000538348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and transcription nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (NRF-2) play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the interactive involvement of BDNF and NRF-2 in respect to antioxidant mechanisms in different parts of the AD brain is still unclear. Considering the above condition, used S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) to examine whether it modulates the BDNF and NRF-2 levels to activate signaling pathway to promote antioxidant levels in AD brains. METHOD AD was induced by intracerebroventricular infusion of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ, 3 mg/kg) in Wistar rats. The effect of GSNO was analyzed by evaluating the retention of memory in months 1, 2, and 3. After the behavior study, rats were sacrificed and accessed the amyloid beta (Aβ)-40, Aβ42, glutathione (GSH), BDNF, and NRF-2 levels in the hippocampus, cortex, and amygdala tissue. RESULTS Pretreatment with GSNO (50 µg/kg/intraperitoneal/day) restored the BDNF, and NRF-2 levels toward normalcy as compared with ICV-STZ + saline-treated animals. Also, GSNO treatment reversed the oxidative stress and increased the GSH levels toward normal levels. Further, reduced Aβ levels and neuronal loss in different brain regions. As a result, GSNO treatment improved the cognitive deficits in ICV-STZ-treated rats. CONCLUSION The results showed that endogenous nitric oxide donor GSNO improved the cognitive deficits and ICV-STZ-induced AD pathological conditions, possibly via attenuating the oxidative stress. Hence, the above finding supported that GSNO treatment may activate BDNF and NRF-2 antioxidant signaling pathways in the AD brain to normalize oxidative stress, which is the main causative factor for ICV-STZ-induced AD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harikesh Dubey
- Departments of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
- The Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Arunabha Ray
- Departments of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
- Departments of Pharmacology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), Hamdard University, New Delhi, India
| | - Anamika Dubey
- Departments of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Kavita Gulati
- Departments of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mazaheri M, Radahmadi M, Sharifi MR. Effects of chronic social equality and inequality conditions on passive avoidance memory and PTSD-like behaviors in rats under chronic empathic stress. Int J Neurosci 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38598305 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2024.2341913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Social inequality conditions induce aversion and affect brain functions and mood. This study investigated the effects of chronic social equality and inequality (CSE and CSI, respectively) conditions on passive avoidance memory and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like behaviors in rats under chronic empathic stress. METHODS Rats were divided into different groups, including control, sham-observer, sham-demonstrator, observer, demonstrator, and co-demonstrator groups. Chronic stress (2 h/day) was administered to all stressed groups for 21 days. Fear learning, fear memory, memory consolidation, locomotor activity, and PTSD-like behaviors were evaluated using the passive avoidance test. Apart from the hippocampal weight, the correlations of memory and right hippocampal weight with serum corticosterone (CORT) levels were separately assessed for all experimental groups. RESULTS Latency was significantly higher in the demonstrator and sham-demonstrator groups compared to the control group. It was decreased significantly in other groups compared to the control group. Latency was also decreased in the observer and co-demonstrator groups compared to the demonstrator group. Moreover, the right hippocampal weight was significantly decreased in the demonstrator and sham-demonstrator groups compared to the control group. Pearson's correlation of memory and hippocampal weight with serum CORT levels supported the present findings. CONCLUSION Maladaptive fear responses occurred in demonstrators and sham-demonstrators. Also, extremely high levels of psychological stress, especially under CSI conditions (causing abnormal fear learning) led to heightened fear memory and PTSD-like behaviors. Right hippocampal atrophy confirmed the potential role of CSI conditions in promoting PTSD-like behaviors. Compared to inequality conditions, the abnormal fear memory was reduced under equality conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mazaheri
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Maryam Radahmadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Sharifi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wen Z, Pace-Schott EF, Lazar SW, Rosén J, Åhs F, Phelps EA, LeDoux JE, Milad MR. Distributed neural representations of conditioned threat in the human brain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2231. [PMID: 38472184 PMCID: PMC10933283 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46508-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting and responding to threat engages several neural nodes including the amygdala, hippocampus, insular cortex, and medial prefrontal cortices. Recent propositions call for the integration of more distributed neural nodes that process sensory and cognitive facets related to threat. Integrative, sensitive, and reproducible distributed neural decoders for the detection and response to threat and safety have yet to be established. We combine functional MRI data across varying threat conditioning and negative affect paradigms from 1465 participants with multivariate pattern analysis to investigate distributed neural representations of threat and safety. The trained decoders sensitively and specifically distinguish between threat and safety cues across multiple datasets. We further show that many neural nodes dynamically shift representations between threat and safety. Our results establish reproducible decoders that integrate neural circuits, merging the well-characterized 'threat circuit' with sensory and cognitive nodes, discriminating threat from safety regardless of experimental designs or data acquisition parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenfu Wen
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Edward F Pace-Schott
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sara W Lazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jörgen Rosén
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Åhs
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | | | - Joseph E LeDoux
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science and Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- The Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Boehme S, Herrmann MJ, Mühlberger A. Good moments to stimulate the brain - A randomized controlled double-blinded study on anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex on two different time points in a two-day fear conditioning paradigm. Behav Brain Res 2024; 460:114804. [PMID: 38103872 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
It is assumed that extinction learning is a suitable model for understanding the mechanisms underlying exposure therapy. Furthermore, there is evidence that non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) can elevate extinction learning by enhancing frontal brain activity and therefore NIBS can augment symptom reduction during exposure therapy in phobias. But, the underlying processes are still not well established. Open questions arise from NIBS time points and electrode placement, among others. Therefore, we investigated in a 2-day fear conditioning experiment, whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) modulates either fear memory consolidation or dampened fear reaction during fear extinction. Sixty-six healthy participants were randomly assigned either to a group that received tDCS after fear acquisition (and before fear memory consolidation), to a group that received tDCS directly before fear extinction, or to a control group that never received active stimulation (sham). Differential skin conductance response (SCR) to CS+ vs. CS- was significantly decreased in both tDCS-groups compared to sham group. Our region of interest, the vmPFC, was stimulated best focally with a lateral anode position and a cathode on the contralateral side. But this comes along with a slightly lateral stimulation of vmPFC depending on whether anode is placed left or right. To avoid unintended effects of stimulated sides the two electrode montages (anode left or right) were mirror-inverted which led to differential effects in SCR and electrocortical (mainly late positive potential [LPP]) data in our exploratory analyses. Results indicated that tDCS-timing is relevant for fear reactions via disturbed fear memory consolidation as well as fear expression, and this depends on whether vmPFC is stimulated with either left- or right-sided anode electrode montage. Electrocortical data can shed more light on the underlying neural correlates and exaggerated LPP seems to be associated with disturbed fear memory consolidation and dampened SCR to CS+ vs. CS-, but solely in the right anode electrode montage. Further open questions addressing where and when to stimulate the prefrontal brain in the course of augmenting fear extinction are raised.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Boehme
- Department of Psychology, Chair for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Wilhelm-Raabe-Straße 43, D-09120 Chemnitz, Germany; Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Martin J Herrmann
- Center of Mental Health, Dept. of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Margarete-Hoeppel-Platz 1, D-97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sowa JE, Tokarski K, Hess G. Activation of the CXCR4 Receptor by Chemokine CXCL12 Increases the Excitability of Neurons in the Rat Central Amygdala. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2024; 19:9. [PMID: 38430337 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-024-10112-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Primarily regarded as immune proteins, chemokines are emerging as a family of molecules serving neuromodulatory functions in the developing and adult brain. Among them, CXCL12 is constitutively and widely expressed in the CNS, where it was shown to act on cellular, synaptic, network, and behavioral levels. Its receptor, CXCR4, is abundant in the amygdala, a brain structure involved in pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Dysregulation of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling has been implicated in anxiety-related behaviors. Here we demonstrate that exogenous CXCL12 at 2 nM but not at 5 nM increased neuronal excitability in the lateral division of the rat central amygdala (CeL) which was evident in the Late-Firing but not Regular-Spiking neurons. These effects were blocked by AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist. Moreover, CXCL12 increased the excitability of the neurons of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) that is known to project to the CeL. However, CXCL12 increased neither the spontaneous excitatory nor spontaneous inhibitory synaptic transmission in the CeL. In summary, the data reveal specific activation of Late-Firing CeL cells along with BLA neurons by CXCL12 and suggest that this chemokine may alter information processing by the amygdala that likely contributes to anxiety and fear conditioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Ewa Sowa
- Department of Physiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, Krakow, 31-343, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Tokarski
- Department of Physiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, Krakow, 31-343, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Hess
- Department of Physiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, Krakow, 31-343, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Castell L, Le Gall V, Cutando L, Petit CP, Puighermanal E, Makrini-Maleville L, Kim HR, Jercog D, Tarot P, Tassou A, Harrus AG, Rubinstein M, Nouvian R, Rivat C, Besnard A, Trifilieff P, Gangarossa G, Janak PH, Herry C, Valjent E. Dopamine D2 receptors in WFS1-neurons regulate food-seeking and avoidance behaviors. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 129:110883. [PMID: 37858736 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The selection and optimization of appropriate adaptive responses depends on interoceptive and exteroceptive stimuli as well as on the animal's ability to switch from one behavioral strategy to another. Although growing evidence indicate that dopamine D2R-mediated signaling events ensure the selection of the appropriate strategy for each specific situation, the underlying neural circuits through which they mediate these effects are poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the role of D2R signaling in a mesolimbic neuronal subpopulation expressing the Wolfram syndrome 1 (Wfs1) gene. This subpopulation is located within the nucleus accumbens, the central amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the tail of the striatum, all brain regions critical for the regulation of emotions and motivated behaviors. Using a mouse model carrying a temporally controlled deletion of D2R in WFS1-neurons, we demonstrate that intact D2R signaling in this neuronal population is necessary to regulate homeostasis-dependent food-seeking behaviors in both male and female mice. In addition, we found that reduced D2R signaling in WFS1-neurons impaired active avoidance learning and innate escape responses. Collectively, these findings identify a yet undocumented role for D2R signaling in WFS1-neurons as a novel effector through which dopamine optimizes appetitive behaviors and regulates defensive behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laia Castell
- IGF, Université, Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier F-34094, France; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Valentine Le Gall
- Université, Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux F-33077, France
| | - Laura Cutando
- IGF, Université, Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier F-34094, France
| | - Chloé P Petit
- INM, Université, Montpellier, Inserm, Montpellier F-34000, France
| | - Emma Puighermanal
- IGF, Université, Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier F-34094, France
| | | | - Ha-Rang Kim
- Université, Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux F-33077, France
| | - Daniel Jercog
- Université, Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux F-33077, France
| | - Pauline Tarot
- IGF, Université, Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier F-34094, France
| | - Adrien Tassou
- INM, Université, Montpellier, Inserm, Montpellier F-34000, France
| | | | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, CONICET; FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Régis Nouvian
- INM, Université, Montpellier, Inserm, Montpellier F-34000, France
| | - Cyril Rivat
- INM, Université, Montpellier, Inserm, Montpellier F-34000, France
| | - Antoine Besnard
- IGF, Université, Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier F-34094, France
| | - Pierre Trifilieff
- Université, Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, Bordeaux F-33000, France
| | - Giuseppe Gangarossa
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Paris F-75013, France; Institut Universitaire de France, France
| | - Patricia H Janak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Cyril Herry
- Université, Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux F-33077, France
| | - Emmanuel Valjent
- IGF, Université, Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier F-34094, France.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cai Y, Ge J, Pan ZZ. The projection from dorsal medial prefrontal cortex to basolateral amygdala promotes behaviors of negative emotion in rats. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1331864. [PMID: 38327845 PMCID: PMC10847313 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1331864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain circuits between medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and amygdala have been implicated in cortical control of emotion, especially anxiety. Studies in recent years focus on differential roles of subregions of mPFC and amygdala, and reciprocal pathways between mPFC and amygdala in regulation of emotional behaviors. It has been shown that, while the projection from ventral mPFC to basomedial amygdala has an anxiolytic effect, the reciprocal projections between dorsal mPFC (dmPFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) are generally involved in an anxiogenic effect in various conditions with increased anxiety. However, the function of the projection from dmPFC to BLA in regulation of general emotional behaviors under normal conditions remains unclear. In this study, we used optogenetic analysis to identify how this dmPFC-BLA pathway regulates various emotional behaviors in normal rats. We found that optogenetic stimulation of the dmPFC-BLA pathway promoted a behavioral state of negative emotion, increasing anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors and producing aversive behavior of place avoidance. Conversely, optogenetic inhibition of this pathway produced opposite effects, reducing anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors, and inducing behaviors of place preference of reward. These findings suggest that activity of the dmPFC-BLA pathway is sufficient to drive a negative emotion state and the mPFC-amygdala circuit is tonically active in cortical regulation of emotional behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhizhong Z. Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gräff J. Engrams of Fear Memory Attenuation. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 38:149-161. [PMID: 39008015 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62983-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Fear attenuation is an etiologically relevant process for animal survival, since once acquired information needs to be continuously updated in the face of changing environmental contingencies. Thus, when situations are encountered that were originally perceived as fearful but are no longer so, fear must be attenuated, otherwise, it risks becoming maladaptive. But what happens to the original memory trace of fear during fear attenuation? In this chapter, we review the studies that have started to approach this question from an engram perspective. We find evidence pointing to both the original memory trace of fear being suppressed, as well as it being updated towards safety. These seemingly conflicting results reflect a well-established dichotomy in the field of fear memory attenuation, namely whether fear attenuation is mediated by an inhibitory mechanism that suppresses fear expression, called extinction, or by an updating mechanism that allows the fear memory to reconsolidate in a different form, called reconsolidation-updating. Which of these scenarios takes the upper hand is ultimately influenced by the behavioral paradigms used to induce fear attenuation, but is an important area for further study as the precise cell populations underlying fear attenuation and the molecular mechanisms therein can now be understood at unprecedented resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Gräff
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sep MSC, Geuze E, Joëls M. Impaired learning, memory, and extinction in posttraumatic stress disorder: translational meta-analysis of clinical and preclinical studies. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:376. [PMID: 38062029 PMCID: PMC10703817 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02660-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Current evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are efficacious in only part of PTSD patients. Therefore, novel neurobiologically informed approaches are urgently needed. Clinical and translational neuroscience point to altered learning and memory processes as key in (models of) PTSD psychopathology. We extended this notion by clarifying at a meta-level (i) the role of information valence, i.e. neutral versus emotional/fearful, and (ii) comparability, as far as applicable, between clinical and preclinical phenotypes. We hypothesized that cross-species, neutral versus emotional/fearful information processing is, respectively, impaired and enhanced in PTSD. This preregistered meta-analysis involved a literature search on PTSD+Learning/Memory+Behavior, performed in PubMed. First, the effect of information valence was estimated with a random-effects meta-regression. The sources of variation were explored with a random forest-based analysis. The analyses included 92 clinical (N = 6732 humans) and 182 preclinical (N = 6834 animals) studies. A general impairment of learning, memory and extinction processes was observed in PTSD patients, regardless of information valence. Impaired neutral learning/memory and fear extinction were also present in animal models of PTSD. Yet, PTSD models enhanced fear/trauma memory in preclinical studies and PTSD impaired emotional memory in patients. Clinical data on fear/trauma memory was limited. Mnemonic phase and valence explained most variation in rodents but not humans. Impaired neutral learning/memory and fear extinction show stable cross-species PTSD phenotypes. These could be targeted for novel PTSD treatments, using information gained from neurobiological animal studies. We argue that apparent cross-species discrepancies in emotional/fearful memory deserve further in-depth study; until then, animal models targeting this phenotype should be applied with utmost care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milou S C Sep
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- GGZ inGeest Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Sleep & Stress Program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Elbert Geuze
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marian Joëls
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lee H, Weinberg-Wolf H, Lee HL, Lee T, Conte J, Godoy-Parejo C, Demb JB, Rudenko A, Kim IJ. Brn3b regulates the formation of fear-related midbrain circuits and defensive responses to visual threat. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002386. [PMID: 37983249 PMCID: PMC10695396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Defensive responses to visually threatening stimuli represent an essential fear-related survival instinct, widely detected across species. The neural circuitry mediating visually triggered defensive responses has been delineated in the midbrain. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and function of these circuits remain unresolved. Here, we show that midbrain-specific deletion of the transcription factor Brn3b causes a loss of neurons projecting to the lateral posterior nucleus of the thalamus. Brn3b deletion also down-regulates the expression of the neuropeptide tachykinin 2 (Tac2). Furthermore, Brn3b mutant mice display impaired defensive freezing responses to visual threat precipitated by social isolation. This behavioral phenotype could be ameliorated by overexpressing Tac2, suggesting that Tac2 acts downstream of Brn3b in regulating defensive responses to threat. Together, our experiments identify specific genetic components critical for the functional organization of midbrain fear-related visual circuits. Similar mechanisms may contribute to the development and function of additional long-range brain circuits underlying fear-associated behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyoseo Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Hannah Weinberg-Wolf
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Hae-Lim Lee
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Tracy Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Joseph Conte
- Department of Biology, City College of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Carlos Godoy-Parejo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jonathan B. Demb
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Andrii Rudenko
- Department of Biology, City College of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
- Graduate Programs in Biology and Biochemistry, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - In-Jung Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gryksa K, Schmidtner AK, Masís-Calvo M, Rodríguez-Villagra OA, Havasi A, Wirobski G, Maloumby R, Jägle H, Bosch OJ, Slattery DA, Neumann ID. Selective breeding of rats for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour: A unique model for comorbid depression and social dysfunctions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105292. [PMID: 37353047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Animal models of selective breeding for extremes in emotionality are a strong experimental approach to model psychopathologies. They became indispensable in order to increase our understanding of neurobiological, genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, and environmental mechanisms contributing to anxiety disorders and their association with depressive symptoms or social deficits. In the present review, we extensively discuss Wistar rats selectively bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour on the elevated plus-maze. After 30 years of breeding, we can confirm the prominent differences between HAB and LAB rats in trait anxiety, which are accompanied by consistent differences in depressive-like, social and cognitive behaviours. We can further confirm a single nucleotide polymorphism in the vasopressin promotor of HAB rats causative for neuropeptide overexpression, and show that low (or high) anxiety and fear levels are unlikely due to visual dysfunctions. Thus, HAB and LAB rats continue to exist as a reliable tool to study the multiple facets underlying the pathology of high trait anxiety and its comorbidity with depression-like behaviour and social dysfunctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Gryksa
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Anna K Schmidtner
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Marianella Masís-Calvo
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Odir A Rodríguez-Villagra
- Centro de Investigación en Neurosciencias, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Andrea Havasi
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Gwendolyn Wirobski
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Rodrigue Maloumby
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Herbert Jägle
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - David A Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Heinrich-Hoffmann-Straße 10, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bal F. Efficacy of increasing levels of exposure therapy in the treatment of maladaptive behaviors and anxiety. MEDICINE INTERNATIONAL 2023; 3:55. [PMID: 37854724 PMCID: PMC10580115 DOI: 10.3892/mi.2023.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined the effectiveness of increasing levels of exposure therapy, which is applied for the treatment of maladaptive behaviors and anxiety. A total of 16 sessions were applied to the study group in the experimental group three times a week for 10 weeks. Patients aged ≥18 years whom the referring clinician evaluated as meeting the criteria for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-V-TR) Generalized Anxiety Disorder were included in the study. For the control group, demographic characteristics and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were applied in the first session, followed by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory as a post-test and follow-up. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of the study group were obtained at the cortical level. Electrodes for EEG measurements were recorded using the International 10/20 Electrode Placement System. EEG data were obtained using the EEG Analysis Program software. Following the data collection phase, all data were entered into cells based on items using SPSS 25 software. When the findings obtained in the study were examined, it was determined that the increasing levels of exposure and behavioral therapy applied for maladaptive anxiety decreased the anxiety levels compared to those before therapy. This finding can be interpreted as that the cortical function-oriented application method for anxiety effectively reduced the anxiety levels of the study group. However, EEG asymmetry revealed a change in the data before and after the application. These findings demonstrate that the application affects the EEG asymmetry changes at the cortical level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Bal
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakarya University, Serdivan, Sakarya 54187, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Li Y, Zhi W, Qi B, Wang L, Hu X. Update on neurobiological mechanisms of fear: illuminating the direction of mechanism exploration and treatment development of trauma and fear-related disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1216524. [PMID: 37600761 PMCID: PMC10433239 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1216524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear refers to an adaptive response in the face of danger, and the formed fear memory acts as a warning when the individual faces a dangerous situation again, which is of great significance to the survival of humans and animals. Excessive fear response caused by abnormal fear memory can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders. Fear memory has been studied for a long time, which is of a certain guiding effect on the treatment of fear-related disorders. With continuous technological innovations, the study of fear has gradually shifted from the level of brain regions to deeper neural (micro) circuits between brain regions and even within single brain regions, as well as molecular mechanisms. This article briefly outlines the basic knowledge of fear memory and reviews the neurobiological mechanisms of fear extinction and relapse, which aims to provide new insights for future basic research on fear emotions and new ideas for treating trauma and fear-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Weijia Zhi
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Qi
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangjun Hu
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Xiang G, Liu X, Wang J, Lu S, Yu M, Zhang Y, Sun B, Huang B, Lu XY, Li X, Zhang D. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α activation facilitates contextual fear extinction and modulates intrinsic excitability of dentate gyrus neurons. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:206. [PMID: 37322045 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus encodes contextual information associated with fear, and cell activity in the DG is required for acquisition and extinction of contextual fear. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we show that mice deficient for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) exhibited a slower rate of contextual fear extinction. Furthermore, selective deletion of PPARα in the DG attenuated, while activation of PPARα in the DG by local infusion of aspirin facilitated extinction of contextual fear. The intrinsic excitability of DG granule neurons was reduced by PPARα deficiency but increased by activation of PPARα with aspirin. Using RNA-Seq transcriptome we found that the transcription level of neuropeptide S receptor 1 (Npsr1) was tightly correlated with PPARα activation. Our results provide evidence that PPARα plays an important role in regulating DG neuronal excitability and contextual fear extinction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guo Xiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jiangong Wang
- Institute of Metabolic and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, 256600, China
| | - Shunshun Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Meng Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Bin Sun
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Bin Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xin-Yun Lu
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Xingang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Badarnee M, Wen Z, Nassar N, Milad MR. Gray matter associations with extinction-induced neural activation in patients with anxiety disorders. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 162:180-186. [PMID: 37167838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between structural characteristics and extinction-induced brain activations in anxiety disorders (ANX) remains a space for greater exploration. In this study, we assessed gray matter volume (GMV) and its associated functional activations during fear extinction memory recall in an ANX cohort. We performed voxel-based morphometry analysis to examine GMVs from ANX (n = 92) and controls (n = 73). We further examined the correlation between GMVs and extinction-induced neural activations during recall across groups. In the patients' group, we observed decreased GMV in the anterior hippocampus and increased GMV in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Hippocampal volume was positively correlated with ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation in healthy controls, while it was negatively correlated with dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) activation in ANX. The dlPFC volume was positively correlated with activations of dACC, pre- and post-central gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus only in healthy controls. Therefore, the link between structural and functional imbalance within the hippocampus and dlPFC might contribute to the pathophysiology of ANX. In the controls, the relationship between structural variance in the hippocampus and dlPFC and extinction-induced neural activations is consistent with a greater ability to regulate fear responding; associations that were absent in the ANX cohort. Furthermore, our findings of structure-function abnormalities within key nodes of emotional homeostasis in ANX point to dlPFC as a potential neural node to target using neuromodulation tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Badarnee
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhenfu Wen
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Noor Nassar
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Rockland, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Matsuda S. Importance of home cage condition for contextual fear memory, fear extinction and spontaneous recovery: Cage size and bedding material. Neurosci Lett 2023; 804:137204. [PMID: 36966963 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Home cage condition influences the central nervous system of experimental animals. However, little is known about the effect of home cage size and bedding material on fear-related behaviors. Thus, in this study, the effects of home cage size (large or small) and/or bedding material (paper or wood) on acquisition, retrieval, extinction, and spontaneous recovery of contextual fear memory were investigated in both male and female mice. The present study demonstrated that males housed in small cages with wood bedding showed a low fear response during fear extinction when compared to males housed in small or large cages with paper bedding. In females, mice housed in small cages with wood bedding showed low fear response during fear conditioning and extinction when compared to mice housed in large cages with paper bedding. Moreover, small cages with wood bedding, but not small or large cages with paper bedding, prevented the spontaneous recovery of fear memory in females. Thus, home cage conditions, and particularly bedding material, influence contextual fear extinction and spontaneous recovery. This finding may help to obtain reproducibility of results by researchers and explain discrepancies of results among research groups.
Collapse
|
20
|
Yan Y, Li M, Jia H, Fu L, Qiu J, Yang W. Amygdala-based functional connectivity mediates the relationship between thought control ability and trait anxiety. Brain Cogn 2023; 168:105976. [PMID: 37086555 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2023.105976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Thought control ability (TCA) refers to the ability to exclude unwanted thoughts. There has been consistent evidence on the protective effect of TCA on anxiety, that higher TCA is associated with lower anxiety. However, the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. In this study, with a large sample (N = 495), we investigated how seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) mediates the relationship between TCA and anxiety. Our behaviour results replicated previous findings that TCA is negatively associated with trait anxiety after controlling for gender, age, and depression. More importantly, the RSFC results revealed that TCA is negatively associated with the left amygdala - left frontal pole (LA-LFP), left amygdala - left inferior temporal gyrus (LA-LITG), and left hippocampus - left inferior frontal gyrus (LH-LIFG) connectivity. In addition, a mediation analysis demonstrated that the LA-LFP and LA-LITG connectivity in particular mediated the influence of TCA on trait anxiety. Overall, our study extends previous research by revealing the neural bases underlying the protective effect of TCA on anxiety and pinpointing specific mediating RSFC pathways. Future studies could explore whether targeted TCA training (behavioural or neural) can help alleviate anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuchi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Min Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hui Jia
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lei Fu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Wenjing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gasalla P, Manahan-Vaughan D, Dwyer DM, Hall J, Méndez-Couz M. Characterisation of the neural basis underlying appetitive extinction & renewal in Cacna1c rats. Neuropharmacology 2023; 227:109444. [PMID: 36724867 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed impairments in Cacna1c ± heterozygous animals (a gene that encodes the Cav 1.2 L-type voltage-gated calcium channels and is implicated in risk for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders) in aversive forms of learning, such as latent inhibition, reversal learning or context discrimination. However, the role of Cav 1.2 L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in extinction of appetitive associations remains under-investigated. Here, we used an appetitive Pavlovian conditioning task and evaluated extinction learning (EL) with a change of context from that of training and test (ABA) and without such a change (AAA) in Cacna1c ± male rats versus their wild-type (WT) littermates. In addition, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization of somatic immediate early genes (IEGs) Arc and Homer1a expression to scrutinize associated changes in the medial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. Cacna1c ± animals successfully adapt their responses by engaging in appetitive EL and renewal. However, the regional IEG expression profile changed. For the EL occurring in the same context, Cacna1c ± animals presented higher IEG expression in the infralimbic cortex and the central amygdala than controls. The prelimbic region presented a larger neural ensemble in Cacna1c ± than WT animals, co-labelled for the time window of EL in the original context and prolonged exposure to the unrewarded context. With a context change, the Cacna1c ± infralimbic region displayed higher IEG expression during renewal than controls. Taken together, our findings provide novel evidence of distinct brain activation patterns occurring in Cacna1c ± rats after appetitive extinction and renewal despite preserved behavioral responses. This article is part of the Special Issue on "L-type calcium channel mechanisms in neuropsychiatric disorders".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Gasalla
- Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Denise Manahan-Vaughan
- Dept. Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Building MA 4/158, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dominic Michael Dwyer
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Marta Méndez-Couz
- Dept. Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Building MA 4/158, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Venkataraman A, Dias BG. Expanding the canon: An inclusive neurobiology of thalamic and subthalamic fear circuits. Neuropharmacology 2023; 226:109380. [PMID: 36572176 PMCID: PMC9984284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Appropriate expression of fear in the face of threats in the environment is essential for survival. The sustained expression of fear in the absence of threat signals is a central pathological feature of trauma- and anxiety-related disorders. Our understanding of the neural circuitry that controls fear inhibition coalesces around the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. By discussing thalamic and sub-thalamic influences on fear-related learning and expression in this review, we suggest a more inclusive neurobiological framework that expands our canonical view of fear. First, we visit how fear-related learning and expression is influenced by the aforementioned canonical brain regions. Next, we review emerging data that shed light on new roles for thalamic and subthalamic nuclei in fear-related learning and expression. Then, we highlight how these neuroanatomical hubs can modulate fear via integration of sensory and salient stimuli, gating information flow and calibrating behavioral responses, as well as maintaining and updating memory representations. Finally, we propose that the presence of this thalamic and sub-thalamic neuroanatomy in parallel with the tripartite prefrontal cortex-amygdala-hippocampus circuit allows for dynamic modulation of information based on interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Archana Venkataraman
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Brian George Dias
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Xu N, Geng L, Yan X, Niu A, Yu H, Su B. Involvement of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the extinction of auditory fear conditioning in male mice. Behav Brain Res 2023; 445:114378. [PMID: 36868362 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in activity-dependent plasticity processes such as long-term potentiation, learning and memory. However, the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in adult extinction is still not well understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the extinction of auditory fear conditioning (AFC) in adult mice. We found that AFC extinction training induced a significant decrease in p-GSK3β and nuclear β-catenin in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Micro-infusion of the canonical Wnt inhibitor Dkk1 into the mPFC before AFC extinction training facilitated AFC extinction, suggesting that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is involved in AFC extinction. To determine how Dkk1 affects canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in AFC extinction, the protein levels of p-GSK3β and β-catenin were measured. We found that DKK1 produces a decrease in p-GSK3β and β-catenin. Moreover, we found that upregulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway using LiCl (2 µg/side) impaired AFC extinction. These findings may help us understand the role of canonical Wnt signaling pathway in memory extinction and suggest that appropriate manipulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway might be a suitable way of therapeutically treating psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
| | - Lian Geng
- Department of Cell Biology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Xianxia Yan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Mental Health Center, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Aijun Niu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
| | - Hui Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| | - Bo Su
- Department of Cell Biology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Hua SS, Ding JJ, Sun TC, Guo C, Zhang Y, Yu ZH, Cao YQ, Zhong LH, Wu Y, Guo LY, Luo JH, Cui YH, Qiu S. NMDAR-dependent synaptic potentiation via APPL1 signaling is required for the accessibility of a prefrontal neuronal assembly in retrieving fear extinction. Biol Psychiatry 2023:S0006-3223(23)00087-2. [PMID: 36842495 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) has been viewed as a locus to store and recall extinction memory. However, the synaptic and cellular mechanisms underlying this process remain elusive. METHODS We combined transgenic mice, electrophysiological recording, activity-dependent cell labeling, and chemogenetic manipulation to analyze the role of adaptor protein APPL1 in the vmPFC for fear extinction retrieval. RESULTS We found that both constitutive and conditional APPL1 knockout decreases NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function in the vmPFC and impairs fear extinction retrieval. Moreover, APPL1 undergoes nuclear translocation during extinction retrieval. Blocking APPL1 nucleocytoplasmic translocation reduces NMDAR currents and disrupts extinction retrieval. We further identified a prefrontal neuronal ensemble that is both necessary and sufficient for the storage of extinction memory. Inducible APPL1 knockout in this ensemble abolishes NMDAR-dependent synaptic potentiation and disrupts extinction retrieval, while simultaneously chemogenetic activation of this ensemble rescues the impaired behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, our results indicate that a prefrontal neuronal ensemble stores extinction memory, and APPL1 signaling supports these neurons to retrieve extinction memory via controlling NMDAR-dependent potentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Shan Hua
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jin-Jun Ding
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Tian-Cheng Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chen Guo
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zi-Hui Yu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yi-Qing Cao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lin-Hong Zhong
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lu-Ying Guo
- Kidney Disease Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jian-Hong Luo
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology,ZhejiangUniversity ,Hangzhou ,310058 ,China
| | - Yi-Hui Cui
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Shuang Qiu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology,ZhejiangUniversity ,Hangzhou ,310058 ,China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Fam J, Chieng B, Westbrook RF, Laurent V, Holmes NM. Second-order fear conditioning involves formation of competing stimulus-danger and stimulus-safety associations. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1843-1855. [PMID: 35524718 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
How do animals process experiences that provide contradictory information? The present study addressed this question using second-order fear conditioning in rats. In second-order conditioning, rats are conditioned to fear a stimulus, S1, through its pairings with foot-shock (stage 1); and some days later, a second stimulus, S2, through its pairings with the already-conditioned S1 (stage 2). However, as foot-shock is never presented during conditioning to S2, we hypothesized that S2 simultaneously encodes 2 contradictory associations: one that drives fear to S2 (S2-danger) and another that reflects the absence of the expected unconditioned stimulus and partially masks that fear (e.g. S2-safety). We tested this hypothesis by manipulating the substrates of danger and safety learning in the brain (using a chemogenetic approach) and assessing the consequences for second-order fear to S2. Critically, silencing activity in the basolateral amygdala (important for danger learning) reduced fear to S2, whereas silencing activity in the infralimbic cortex (important for safety learning) enhanced fear to S2. These bidirectional changes are consistent with our hypothesis that second-order fear conditioning involves the formation of competing S2-danger and S2-safety associations. More generally, they show that a single set of experiences can produce contradictory associations and that the brain resolves the contradiction by encoding these associations in distinct brain regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justine Fam
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Billy Chieng
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | | | - Vincent Laurent
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Exploration driven by a medial preoptic circuit facilitates fear extinction in mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:106. [PMID: 36707677 PMCID: PMC9883483 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04442-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive exposure to fear-associated targets is a typical treatment for patients with panic or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The success of exposure therapy depends on the active exploration of a fear-eliciting target despite an innate drive to avoid it. Here, we found that a circuit running from CaMKIIα-positive neurons of the medial preoptic area to the ventral periaqueductal gray (MPA-vPAG) facilitates the exploration of a fear-conditioned zone and subsequent fear extinction in mice. Activation or inhibition of this circuit did not induce preference/avoidance of a specific zone. Repeated entries into the fear-conditioned zone, induced by the motivation to chase a head-mounted object due to MPA-vPAG circuit photostimulation, facilitated fear extinction. Our results show how the brain forms extinction memory against avoidance of a fearful target and suggest a circuit-based mechanism of exposure therapy.
Collapse
|
27
|
Mowery TM, Garraghty PE. Adult neuroplasticity employs developmental mechanisms. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 16:1086680. [PMID: 36762289 PMCID: PMC9904365 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.1086680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Although neural plasticity is now widely studied, there was a time when the idea of adult plasticity was antithetical to the mainstream. The essential stumbling block arose from the seminal experiments of Hubel and Wiesel who presented convincing evidence that there existed a critical period for plasticity during development after which the brain lost its ability to change in accordance to shifts in sensory input. Despite the zeitgeist that mature brain is relatively immutable to change, there were a number of examples of adult neural plasticity emerging in the scientific literature. Interestingly, some of the earliest of these studies involved visual plasticity in the adult cat. Even earlier, there were reports of what appeared to be functional reorganization in adult rat somatosensory thalamus after dorsal column lesions, a finding that was confirmed and extended with additional experimentation. To demonstrate that these findings reflected more than a response to central injury, and to gain greater control of the extent of the sensory loss, peripheral nerve injuries were used that eliminated ascending sensory information while leaving central pathways intact. Merzenich, Kaas, and colleagues used peripheral nerve transections to reveal unambiguous reorganization in primate somatosensory cortex. Moreover, these same researchers showed that this plasticity proceeded in no less than two stages, one immediate, and one more protracted. These findings were confirmed and extended to more expansive cortical deprivations, and further extended to the thalamus and brainstem. There then began a series of experiments to reveal the physiological, morphological and neurochemical mechanisms that permitted this plasticity. Ultimately, Mowery and colleagues conducted a series of experiments that carefully tracked the levels of expression of several subunits of glutamate (AMPA and NMDA) and GABA (GABAA and GABAB) receptor complexes in primate somatosensory cortex at several time points after peripheral nerve injury. These receptor subunit mapping experiments revealed that membrane expression levels came to reflect those seen in early phases of critical period development. This suggested that under conditions of prolonged sensory deprivation the adult cells were returning to critical period like plastic states, i.e., developmental recapitulation. Here we outline the heuristics that drive this phenomenon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Todd M. Mowery
- Department of Otolaryngology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Preston E. Garraghty
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Lee D, Guiomar R, Gonçalves ÓF, Almeida J, Ganho-Ávila A. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on neural activity and functional connectivity during fear extinction. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2023; 23:100342. [PMID: 36299490 PMCID: PMC9578989 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Objective Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and negatively impact daily functioning and quality of life. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), especially in the right hemisphere impacts extinction learning; however, the underlying neural mechanisms are elusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of cathodal tDCS stimulation to the right dlPFC on neural activity and connectivity patterns during delayed fear extinction in healthy participants. Methods We conducted a two-day fear conditioning and extinction procedure. On the first day, we collected fear-related self-reports, clinical questionnaires, and skin conductance responses during fear acquisition. On the second day, participants in the tDCS group (n = 16) received 20-min offline tDCS before fMRI and then completed the fear extinction session during fMRI. Participants in the control group (n = 18) skipped tDCS and directly underwent fMRI to complete the fear extinction procedure. Whole-brain searchlight classification and resting-state functional connectivity analyses were performed. Results Whole-brain searchlight classification during fear extinction showed higher classification accuracy of threat and safe cues in the left anterior dorsal and ventral insulae and hippocampus in the tDCS group than in the control group. Functional connectivity derived from the insula with the dlPFC, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and inferior parietal lobule was increased after tDCS. Conclusion tDCS over the right dlPFC may function as a primer for information exchange among distally connected areas, thereby increasing stimulus discrimination. The current study did not include a sham group, and one participant of the control group was not randomized. Therefore, to address potential allocation bias, findings should be confirmed in the future with a fully randomized and sham controlled study.
Collapse
Key Words
- ACC, anterior cingulate cortex
- CS, conditioned stimulus
- EPI, echo-planar imaging
- FOV, field of view
- Fear extinction
- GLM, general linear model
- HC, hippocampus
- IPL, inferior parietal lobule
- PFC, prefrontal cortex
- Resting-state functional connectivity
- SCR, skin conductance response
- TE, echo time
- TR, repetition time
- US, unconditioned stimulus
- Whole-brain searchlight classification
- dAI, dorsal anterior insula
- dlPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging
- tDCS
- tDCS, transcranial direct current stimulation
- vAI, ventral anterior insula
- vmPFC, ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongha Lee
- Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, 61 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, Republic of Korea,Corresponding author at: Cognitive Science Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, 61 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, Republic of Korea 41062.
| | - Raquel Guiomar
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo 3000-115, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Óscar F. Gonçalves
- Proaction Laboratory, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Almeida
- Proaction Laboratory, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Ganho-Ávila
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo 3000-115, Coimbra, Portugal,Corresponding author at: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Amygdala Intercalated Cells: Gate Keepers and Conveyors of Internal State to the Circuits of Emotion. J Neurosci 2022; 42:9098-9109. [PMID: 36639901 PMCID: PMC9761677 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1176-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Generating adaptive behavioral responses to emotionally salient stimuli requires evaluation of complex associations between multiple sensations, the surrounding context, and current internal state. Neural circuits within the amygdala parse this emotional information, undergo synaptic plasticity to reflect learned associations, and evoke appropriate responses through their projections to the brain regions orchestrating these behaviors. Information flow within the amygdala is regulated by the intercalated cells (ITCs), which are densely packed clusters of GABAergic neurons that encircle the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and provide contextually relevant feedforward inhibition of amygdala nuclei, including the central and BLA. Emerging studies have begun to delineate the unique contribution of each ITC cluster and establish ITCs as key loci of plasticity in emotional learning. In this review, we summarize the known connectivity and function of individual ITC clusters and explore how different neuromodulators conveying internal state act via ITC gates to shape emotionally motivated behavior. We propose that the behavioral state-dependent function of ITCs, their unique genetic profile, and rich expression of neuromodulator receptors make them potential therapeutic targets for disorders, such as anxiety, schizophrenia spectrum, and addiction.
Collapse
|
30
|
Goral RO, Harper KM, Bernstein BJ, Fry SA, Lamb PW, Moy SS, Cushman JD, Yakel JL. Loss of GABA co-transmission from cholinergic neurons impairs behaviors related to hippocampal, striatal, and medial prefrontal cortex functions. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1067409. [PMID: 36505727 PMCID: PMC9730538 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1067409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Altered signaling or function of acetylcholine (ACh) has been reported in various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Tourette syndrome, epilepsy among others. Many neurons that release ACh also co-transmit the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) at synapses in the hippocampus, striatum, substantia nigra, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Although ACh transmission is crucial for higher brain functions such as learning and memory, the role of co-transmitted GABA from ACh neurons in brain function remains unknown. Thus, the overarching goal of this study was to investigate how a systemic loss of GABA co-transmission from ACh neurons affected the behavioral performance of mice. Methods: To do this, we used a conditional knock-out mouse of the vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) crossed with the ChAT-Cre driver line to selectively ablate GABA co-transmission at ACh synapses. In a comprehensive series of standardized behavioral assays, we compared Cre-negative control mice with Cre-positive vGAT knock-out mice of both sexes. Results: Loss of GABA co-transmission from ACh neurons did not disrupt the animal's sociability, motor skills or sensation. However, in the absence of GABA co-transmission, we found significant alterations in social, spatial and fear memory as well as a reduced reliance on striatum-dependent response strategies in a T-maze. In addition, male conditional knockout (CKO) mice showed increased locomotion. Discussion: Taken together, the loss of GABA co-transmission leads to deficits in higher brain functions and behaviors. Therefore, we propose that ACh/GABA co-transmission modulates neural circuitry involved in the affected behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R. Oliver Goral
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Center on Compulsive Behaviors, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kathryn M. Harper
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Briana J. Bernstein
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Health and Human Services, Neurobehavioral Core, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sydney A. Fry
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Health and Human Services, Neurobehavioral Core, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Patricia W. Lamb
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sheryl S. Moy
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jesse D. Cushman
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Health and Human Services, Neurobehavioral Core, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jerrel L. Yakel
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Jerrel L. Yakel
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Pace-Schott EF, Seo J, Bottary R. The influence of sleep on fear extinction in trauma-related disorders. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 22:100500. [PMID: 36545012 PMCID: PMC9761387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), fear and anxiety become dysregulated following psychologically traumatic events. Regulation of fear and anxiety involves both high-level cognitive processes such as cognitive reattribution and low-level, partially automatic memory processes such as fear extinction, safety learning and habituation. These latter processes are believed to be deficient in PTSD. While insomnia and nightmares are characteristic symptoms of existing PTSD, abundant recent evidence suggests that sleep disruption prior to and acute sleep disturbance following traumatic events both can predispose an individual to develop PTSD. Sleep promotes consolidation in multiple memory systems and is believed to also do so for low-level emotion-regulatory memory processes. Consequently sleep disruption may contribute to the etiology of PTSD by interfering with consolidation in low-level emotion-regulatory memory systems. During the first weeks following a traumatic event, when in the course of everyday life resilient individuals begin to acquire and consolidate these low-level emotion-regulatory memories, those who will develop PTSD symptoms may fail to do so. This deficit may, in part, result from alterations of sleep that interfere with their consolidation, such as REM fragmentation, that have also been found to presage later PTSD symptoms. Here, sleep disruption in PTSD as well as fear extinction, safety learning and habituation and their known alterations in PTSD are first briefly reviewed. Then neural processes that occur during the early post-trauma period that might impede low-level emotion regulatory processes through alterations of sleep quality and physiology will be considered. Lastly, recent neuroimaging evidence from a fear conditioning and extinction paradigm in patient groups and their controls will be considered along with one possible neural process that may contribute to a vulnerability to PTSD following trauma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Corresponding author. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital - East, CNY 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
| | - Jeehye Seo
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Korea University, Department of Brain & Cognitive Engineering, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ryan Bottary
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Reich N, Hölscher C. Beyond Appetite: Acylated Ghrelin As A Learning, Memory and Fear Behavior-modulating Hormone. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104952. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
33
|
Stoliker D, Egan GF, Friston KJ, Razi A. Neural Mechanisms and Psychology of Psychedelic Ego Dissolution. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:876-917. [PMID: 36786290 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies of psychedelics have advanced our understanding of hierarchical brain organization and the mechanisms underlying their subjective and therapeutic effects. The primary mechanism of action of classic psychedelics is binding to serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors. Agonist activity at these receptors leads to neuromodulatory changes in synaptic efficacy that can have a profound effect on hierarchical message-passing in the brain. Here, we review the cognitive and neuroimaging evidence for the effects of psychedelics: in particular, their influence on selfhood and subject-object boundaries-known as ego dissolution-surmised to underwrite their subjective and therapeutic effects. Agonism of 5-HT2A receptors, located at the apex of the cortical hierarchy, may have a particularly powerful effect on sentience and consciousness. These effects can endure well after the pharmacological half-life, suggesting that psychedelics may have effects on neural plasticity that may play a role in their therapeutic efficacy. Psychologically, this may be accompanied by a disarming of ego resistance that increases the repertoire of perceptual hypotheses and affords alternate pathways for thought and behavior, including those that undergird selfhood. We consider the interaction between serotonergic neuromodulation and sentience through the lens of hierarchical predictive coding, which speaks to the value of psychedelics in understanding how we make sense of the world and specific predictions about effective connectivity in cortical hierarchies that can be tested using functional neuroimaging. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Classic psychedelics bind to serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors. Their agonist activity at these receptors leads to neuromodulatory changes in synaptic efficacy, resulting in a profound effect on information processing in the brain. Here, we synthesize an abundance of brain imaging research with pharmacological and psychological interpretations informed by the framework of predictive coding. Moreover, predictive coding is suggested to offer more sophisticated interpretations of neuroimaging findings by bridging the role between the 5-HT2A receptors and large-scale brain networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devon Stoliker
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
| | - Gary F Egan
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
| | - Karl J Friston
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
| | - Adeel Razi
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health (D.S., G.F.E., A.R.) and Monash Biomedical Imaging (G.F.E., A.R.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom (K.J.F., A.R.); and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada (A.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Han F, Xu F, Zhu Q, Sun P, Zhou Y, Yu M. Virus-mediated GHS-R1a expression in the basolateral amygdala blocks extinction of conditioned taste aversion memory in rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 602:57-62. [PMID: 35255434 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.02.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin is an orexigenic gastric hormone that promotes feeding behaviors and regulating energy homeostasis in both humans and rodents. Our previous studies have shown that ghrelin, when locally infused into the basolateral amygdala (BLA), blocks both acquisition and extinction of conditioned taste aversion (CTA) memory in rats. In this study, we further investigated the effect of virus-mediated overexpression of ghrelin receptor growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a) in BLA pyramidal neurons on CTA memory processes. We found that upregulation of GHS-R1a expression in BLA pyramidal neurons repressed CTA extinction while it had no effect on CTA acquisition. In addition, we reported that local infusion of the endogenous GHS-R1a antagonist, liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), in the BLA abolished the inhibitory effect of increased GHS-R1a on CTA memory extinction. Those findings provide new supportive evidence that ghrelin/GHS-R1a signaling in the BLA circuit shapes emotional memory processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fubing Han
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, 266000, China
| | - Fenghua Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Qianqian Zhu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, 266000, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China; Institute of Brain Sciences and Related Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, 266000, China.
| | - Ming Yu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lawrenson C, Paci E, Pickford J, Drake RAR, Lumb BM, Apps R. Cerebellar modulation of memory encoding in the periaqueductal grey and fear behaviour. eLife 2022; 11:76278. [PMID: 35287795 PMCID: PMC8923669 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The pivotal role of the periaqueductal grey (PAG) in fear learning is reinforced by the identification of neurons in male rat ventrolateral PAG (vlPAG) that encode fear memory through signalling the onset and offset of an auditory-conditioned stimulus during presentation of the unreinforced conditioned tone (CS+) during retrieval. Some units only display CS+ onset or offset responses, and the two signals differ in extinction sensitivity, suggesting that they are independent of each other. In addition, understanding cerebellar contributions to survival circuits is advanced by the discovery that (i) reversible inactivation of the medial cerebellar nucleus (MCN) during fear consolidation leads in subsequent retrieval to (a) disruption of the temporal precision of vlPAG offset, but not onset responses to CS+, and (b) an increase in duration of freezing behaviour. And (ii) chemogenetic manipulation of the MCN-vlPAG projection during fear acquisition (a) reduces the occurrence of fear-related ultrasonic vocalisations, and (b) during subsequent retrieval, slows the extinction rate of fear-related freezing. These findings show that the cerebellum is part of the survival network that regulates fear memory processes at multiple timescales and in multiple ways, raising the possibility that dysfunctional interactions in the cerebellar-survival network may underlie fear-related disorders and comorbidities. Anxiety disorders are a cluster of mental health conditions characterised by persistent and excessive amounts of fear and worry. They affect millions of people worldwide, but treatments can sometimes be ineffective and have unwanted side effects. Understanding which brain regions are involved in fear and anxiety-related behaviours, and how those areas are connected, is the first step towards designing more effective treatments. A region known as the periaqueductal grey (or PAG) sits at the centre of the brain’s fear and anxiety network, regulating pain, encoding fear memories and responding to threats and stressors. It also controls survival behaviours such as the ‘freeze’ response, when an animal is frightened. A more recent addition to the fear and anxiety network is the cerebellum, which sits at the base of the brain. Two-way connections between this region and the PAG have been well described, but how the cerebellum might influence fear and anxiety-related behaviours remains unclear. To explore this role, Lawrenson, Paci et al. investigated whether the cerebellum modulates brain activity within the PAG and if so, how this relates to fear behaviours. Rats had electrodes implanted in their brains to record the activity of nerve cells within the PAG. A common fear-conditioning task was then used to elicit ‘freeze’ responses: a sound was paired with mild foot shocks until the animals learned to fear the auditory signal. In the rats, a subset of neurons within the PAG responded to the tone, consistent with those cells encoding a fear memory. But when a drug blocked the cerebellum’s output during fear conditioning, the timing of the PAG response was less precise and the rats’ freeze response lasted longer. Lawrenson, Paci et al. concluded that the cerebellum, through its interactions with the brain’s fear and anxiety network, might be responsible for coordinating the most appropriate behavioural response to fear, and how long ‘freezing’ lasts. In summary, these findings show that the cerebellum is a part of the brain’s survival network which regulates fear-memory processes. It raises the possibility that disruption of the cerebellum might underlie anxiety and other fear-related disorders, thereby providing a new target for future therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Lawrenson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Paci
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmine Pickford
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A R Drake
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Bridget M Lumb
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Apps
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Batsikadze G, Diekmann N, Ernst TM, Klein M, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Merz CJ, Cheng S, Quick HH, Timmann D. The cerebellum contributes to context-effects during fear extinction learning: a 7T fMRI study. Neuroimage 2022; 253:119080. [PMID: 35276369 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is involved in the acquisition and consolidation of learned fear responses. Knowledge about its contribution to extinction learning, however, is sparse. Extinction processes likely involve erasure of memories, but there is ample evidence that at least part of the original memory remains. We asked the question whether memory persists within the cerebellum following extinction training. The renewal effect, that is the reoccurrence of the extinguished fear memory during recall in a context different from the extinction context, constitutes one of the phenomena indicating that memory of extinguished learned fear responses is not fully erased during extinction training. We performed a differential AB-A/B fear conditioning paradigm in a 7-Tesla (7T) MRI system in 31 young and healthy men. On day 1, fear acquisition training was performed in context A and extinction training in context B. On day 2, recall was tested in contexts A and B. As expected, participants learned to predict that the CS+ was followed by an aversive electric shock during fear acquisition training. Skin conductance responses (SCRs) were significantly higher to the CS+ compared to the CS- at the end of acquisition. Differences in SCRs vanished in extinction and reoccurred in the acquisition context during recall indicating renewal. Fitting SCR data, a deep neural network model was trained to predict the correct shock value for a given stimulus and context. Event-related fMRI analysis with model-derived prediction values as parametric modulations showed significant effects on activation of the posterolateral cerebellum (lobules VI and Crus I) during recall. Since the prediction values differ based on stimulus (CS+ and CS-) and context during recall, data provide support that the cerebellum is involved in context-related recall of learned fear associations. Likewise, mean β values were highest in lobules VI and Crus I bilaterally related to the CS+ in the acquisition context during early recall. A similar pattern was seen in the vermis, but only on a trend level. Thus, part of the original memory likely remains within the cerebellum following extinction training. We found cerebellar activations related to the CS+ and CS- during fear acquisition training which likely reflect associative and non-associative aspects of the task. Cerebellar activations, however, were not significantly different for CS+ and CS-. Since the CS- was never followed by an electric shock, the cerebellum may contribute to associative learning related to the CS, for example as a safety cue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgi Batsikadze
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen 45147, Germany.
| | - Nicolas Diekmann
- Institute for Neural Computation, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Michael Ernst
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen 45147, Germany; Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Klein
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen 45147, Germany
| | - Stefan Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Cornelius Deuschl
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Josef Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sen Cheng
- Institute for Neural Computation, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen 45147, Germany; Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Namkung H, Thomas KL, Hall J, Sawa A. Parsing neural circuits of fear learning and extinction across basic and clinical neuroscience: Towards better translation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 134:104502. [PMID: 34921863 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, studies of fear learning and extinction have advanced our understanding of the neurobiology of threat and safety learning. Animal studies can provide mechanistic/causal insights into human brain regions and their functional connectivity involved in fear learning and extinction. Findings in humans, conversely, may further enrich our understanding of neural circuits in animals by providing macroscopic insights at the level of brain-wide networks. Nevertheless, there is still much room for improvement in translation between basic and clinical research on fear learning and extinction. Through the lens of neural circuits, in this article, we aim to review the current knowledge of fear learning and extinction in both animals and humans, and to propose strategies to fill in the current knowledge gap for the purpose of enhancing clinical benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ho Namkung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Kerrie L Thomas
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Akira Sawa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Glavonic E, Mitic M, Adzic M. Hallucinogenic drugs and their potential for treating fear-related disorders: Through the lens of fear extinction. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:947-969. [PMID: 35165930 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Fear-related disorders, mainly phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, are highly prevalent, debilitating disorders that pose a significant public health problem. They are characterized by aberrant processing of aversive experiences and dysregulated fear extinction, leading to excessive expression of fear and diminished quality of life. The gold standard for treating fear-related disorders is extinction-based exposure therapy (ET), shown to be ineffective for up to 35% of subjects. Moreover, ET combined with traditional pharmacological treatments for fear-related disorders, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, offers no further advantage to patients. This prompted the search for ways to improve ET outcomes, with current research focused on pharmacological agents that can augment ET by strengthening fear extinction learning. Hallucinogenic drugs promote reprocessing of fear-imbued memories and induce positive mood and openness, relieving anxiety and enabling the necessary emotional engagement during psychotherapeutic interventions. Mechanistically, hallucinogens induce dynamic structural and functional neuroplastic changes across the fear extinction circuitry and temper amygdala's hyperreactivity to threat-related stimuli, effectively mitigating one of the hallmarks of fear-related disorders. This paper provides the first comprehensive review of hallucinogens' potential to alleviate symptoms of fear-related disorders by focusing on their effects on fear extinction and the underlying molecular mechanisms. We overview both preclinical and clinical studies and emphasize the advantages of hallucinogenic drugs over current first-line treatments. We highlight 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine as the most effective therapeutics for fear-related disorders and discuss the potential molecular mechanisms responsible for their potency with implications for improving hallucinogen-assisted psychotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilija Glavonic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Mitic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslav Adzic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Hennings AC, McClay M, Drew MR, Lewis-Peacock JA, Dunsmoor JE. Neural reinstatement reveals divided organization of fear and extinction memories in the human brain. Curr Biol 2022; 32:304-314.e5. [PMID: 34813732 PMCID: PMC8792329 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Neurobiological research in rodents has revealed that competing experiences of fear and extinction are stored as distinct memory traces in the brain. This divided organization is adaptive for mitigating overgeneralization of fear to related stimuli that are learned to be safe while also maintaining threat associations for unsafe stimuli. The mechanisms involved in organizing these competing memories in the human brain remain unclear. Here, we used a hybrid form of Pavlovian conditioning with an episodic memory component to identify overlapping multivariate patterns of fMRI activity associated with the formation and retrieval of fear versus extinction. In healthy adults, distinct regions of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus showed selective reactivation of fear versus extinction memories based on the temporal context in which these memories were encoded. This dissociation was absent in participants with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The divided neural organization of fear and extinction may support flexible retrieval of context-appropriate emotional memories, while their disorganization may promote overgeneralization and increased fear relapse in affective disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Augustin C Hennings
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mason McClay
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Drew
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jarrod A Lewis-Peacock
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Joseph E Dunsmoor
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Yan Y, Aierken A, Wang C, Jin W, Quan Z, Wang Z, Qing H, Ni J, Zhao J. Neuronal Circuits Associated with Fear Memory: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Neuroscientist 2022; 29:332-351. [PMID: 35057666 DOI: 10.1177/10738584211069977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is associated with long-lasting memories of traumatic experiences. Extinction and discrimination of fear memory have become therapeutic targets for PTSD. Newly developed optogenetics and advanced in vivo imaging techniques have provided unprecedented spatiotemporal tools to characterize the activity, connectivity, and functionality of specific cell types in complicated neuronal circuits. The use of such tools has offered mechanistic insights into the exquisite organization of the circuitry underlying the extinction and discrimination of fear memory. This review focuses on the acquisition of more detailed, comprehensive, and integrated neural circuits to understand how the brain regulates the extinction and discrimination of fear memory. A future challenge is to translate these researches into effective therapeutic treatment for PTSD from the perspective of precise regulation of the neural circuits associated with the extinction and discrimination of fear memories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ailikemu Aierken
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Chunjian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Junjun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
- Aerospace Medical Center, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Matsuda S. [Research for sex differences in fear extinction]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2022; 157:435-439. [PMID: 36328556 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.22054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fear memory has an important role in survival, but excess fear memory could be cause to fear-related disorders such as post traumatic disorder (PTSD). People who undergo a fearful event do not always develop PTSD, suggesting that there are vulnerable factors to develop the disorder. It is believed that sex, in particular female, is one of the factors as it is known that the prevalence rate of PTSD is higher in women than in men. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the sex differences in their prevalence rate remain unclear. Because previous studies reported that patients with fear-related disorders show an impairment of fear extinction, investigation of sex differences in fear extinction may be useful for understanding the greater vulnerability of women to fear-related disorders. Although number of papers investigating sex differences in fear extinction, these reports have increased recently. This review introduces fear extinction, sex differences in fear extinction is low, and the molecular mechanisms of sex differences in fear extinction. In the molecular mechanisms, we focused brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor signal which has been investigated by independent research groups.
Collapse
|
42
|
Klein AS, Dolensek N, Weiand C, Gogolla N. Fear balance is maintained by bodily feedback to the insular cortex in mice. Science 2021; 374:1010-1015. [PMID: 34793231 DOI: 10.1126/science.abj8817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra S Klein
- Circuits for Emotion Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,International Max-Planck Research School for Molecular Life Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Nate Dolensek
- Circuits for Emotion Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Weiand
- Circuits for Emotion Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,International Max-Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Nadine Gogolla
- Circuits for Emotion Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Lguensat A, Boudjafad Z, Giorla E, Bennis M, Baunez C, Garcia R, Ba-M'hamed S. Repeated ethanol exposure following avoidance conditioning impairs avoidance extinction and modifies conditioning-associated prefrontal dendritic changes in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:7710-7732. [PMID: 34670326 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is complicated by the presence of alcohol use disorder comorbidity. Little is known about the underlying brain mechanisms. We have recently shown, in mice, that the post-traumatic stress disorder-like phenotype is characterised by the increase and decrease in total dendritic number and length in the prelimbic and infralimbic areas of the medial prefrontal cortex, respectively. Here, we examined whether repeated ethanol exposure would exacerbate these changes and whether this would be associated with difficulty to extinguish passive avoidance behaviour, as an indicator of treatment resistance. We also analysed whether other known trauma-associated changes, like increased or decreased corticosterone and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, would also be exacerbated. Male mice underwent trauma exposure (1.5-mA footshock), followed, 8 days later, by a conditioned place preference training with ethanol. Tests for fear sensitization, passive avoidance, anxiety-like behaviour, extinction acquisition and relapse susceptibility were used to assess behaviour changes. Plasma corticosterone and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and prefrontal dendritic changes were subsequently measured. Trauma-susceptible mice exposed to ethanol acquired a strong place preference and behaved differently from those not exposed to ethanol, with delayed avoidance extinction and higher avoidance relapse vulnerability. Ethanol potentiated trauma-associated dendritic changes in the prelimbic area and suppressed trauma-associated dendritic changes in the infralimbic area. However, ethanol had no effect on trauma-induced increased corticosterone and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. These data suggest that the modification of prefrontal trauma-related changes, due to alcohol use, can characterise, and probably support, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asmae Lguensat
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Zineb Boudjafad
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Elodie Giorla
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Mohamed Bennis
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Christelle Baunez
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - René Garcia
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.,Graduate School of Life and Health Sciences, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Saadia Ba-M'hamed
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Baldi E, Costa A, Rani B, Passani MB, Blandina P, Romano A, Provensi G. Oxytocin and Fear Memory Extinction: Possible Implications for the Therapy of Fear Disorders? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10000. [PMID: 34576161 PMCID: PMC8467761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several psychiatric conditions such as phobias, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by pathological fear and anxiety. The main therapeutic approach used in the management of these disorders is exposure-based therapy, which is conceptually based upon fear extinction with the formation of a new safe memory association, allowing the reduction in behavioral conditioned fear responses. Nevertheless, this approach is only partially resolutive, since many patients have difficulty following the demanding and long process, and relapses are frequently observed over time. One strategy to improve the efficacy of the cognitive therapy is the combination with pharmacological agents. Therefore, the identification of compounds able to strengthen the formation and persistence of the inhibitory associations is a key goal. Recently, growing interest has been aroused by the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT), which has been shown to have anxiolytic effects. Furthermore, OXT receptors and binding sites have been found in the critical brain structures involved in fear extinction. In this review, the recent literature addressing the complex effects of OXT on fear extinction at preclinical and clinical levels is discussed. These studies suggest that the OXT roles in fear behavior are due to its local effects in several brain regions, most notably, distinct amygdaloid regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Baldi
- Section of Physiological Sciences, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Alessia Costa
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Barbara Rani
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Maria Beatrice Passani
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Patrizio Blandina
- Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Adele Romano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology ‘V. Erspamer’, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gustavo Provensi
- Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Ma X, Vuyyuru H, Munsch T, Endres T, Lessmann V, Meis S. ProBDNF Dependence of LTD and Fear Extinction Learning in the Amygdala of Adult Mice. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:1350-1364. [PMID: 34470044 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins are secreted proteins that control survival, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. While mature neurotrophins regulate these functions via tyrosine kinase signaling (Trk), uncleaved pro-neurotrophins bind preferentially to the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) and often exert opposite effects to those of mature neurotrophins. In the amygdala, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enables long-term potentiation as well as fear and fear extinction learning. In the present study, we focused on the impact of mature BDNF and proBDNF signaling on long-term depression (LTD) in the lateral amygdala (LA). Hence, we conducted extracellular field potential recordings in an in vitro slice preparation and recorded LTD in cortical and thalamic afferents to the LA. LTD was unchanged by acute block of BDNF/TrkB signaling. In contrast, LTD was inhibited by blocking p75NTR signaling, by disinhibition of the proteolytic cleavage of proBDNF into mature BDNF, and by preincubation with a function-blocking anti-proBDNF antibody. Since LTD-like processes in the amygdala are supposed to be related to fear extinction learning, we locally inhibited p75NTR signaling in the amygdala during or after fear extinction training, resulting in impaired fear extinction memory. Overall, these results suggest that in the amygdala proBDNF/p75NTR signaling plays a pivotal role in LTD and fear extinction learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Ma
- Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Harish Vuyyuru
- Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Munsch
- Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Endres
- Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Volkmar Lessmann
- Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Meis
- Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Lewis V, Laberge F, Heyland A. Transcriptomic signature of extinction learning in the brain of the fire-bellied toad, Bombina orientalis. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 184:107502. [PMID: 34391934 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Insight into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of learning and memory from a diverse array of taxa contributes to our understanding of the evolution of these processes. The fire-bellied toad, Bombina orientalis, is a basal anuran amphibian model species who could help us describe shared and divergent characteristics of learning and memory mechanisms between amphibians and other vertebrates, and hence answer questions about the evolution of learning. Utilizing next generation sequencing techniques, we profiled gene expression patterns associated with the extinction of prey-catching conditioning in the brain of the fire-bellied toad. For this purpose, gene expression was at first compared between toads sacrificed after acquisition and extinction of the conditioned response. A second comparison was done between toads submitted to extinction following either short or long acquisition training, which results in toads displaying response extinction or resistance to extinction, respectively. We analyzed brain tissue transcription profiles common to both acquisition and extinction learning, or unique to extinction learning and resistance to extinction, and found significant overlap in gene expression related to molecular pathways involving neuronal plasticity (e.g. structural modification, transcription). However, extinction learning induced a unique GABAergic transcriptomic signal, which may be responsible for suppression of the original response memory. Further, when comparing extinction learning in short- and long-trained groups, short training engaged many pathways related to neuronal plasticity, as expected, but long training engaged molecular pathways related to the suppression of learning through epigenetic mediated transcriptional suppression and inhibitory neurotransmission. Overall, gene expression patterns associated with extinction learning in the fire-bellied toad were similar to those found in mammals submitted to extinction, although some divergent profiles highlighted potential differences in the mechanisms of learning and memory among tetrapods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vern Lewis
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Frédéric Laberge
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Andreas Heyland
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Whittle N, Fadok J, MacPherson KP, Nguyen R, Botta P, Wolff SBE, Müller C, Herry C, Tovote P, Holmes A, Singewald N, Lüthi A, Ciocchi S. Central amygdala micro-circuits mediate fear extinction. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4156. [PMID: 34230461 PMCID: PMC8260764 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24068-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear extinction is an adaptive process whereby defensive responses are attenuated following repeated experience of prior fear-related stimuli without harm. The formation of extinction memories involves interactions between various corticolimbic structures, resulting in reduced central amygdala (CEA) output. Recent studies show, however, the CEA is not merely an output relay of fear responses but contains multiple neuronal subpopulations that interact to calibrate levels of fear responding. Here, by integrating behavioural, in vivo electrophysiological, anatomical and optogenetic approaches in mice we demonstrate that fear extinction produces reversible, stimulus- and context-specific changes in neuronal responses to conditioned stimuli in functionally and genetically defined cell types in the lateral (CEl) and medial (CEm) CEA. Moreover, we show these alterations are absent when extinction is deficient and that selective silencing of protein kinase C delta-expressing (PKCδ) CEl neurons impairs fear extinction. Our findings identify CEA inhibitory microcircuits that act as critical elements within the brain networks mediating fear extinction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Whittle
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jonathan Fadok
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kathryn P MacPherson
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robin Nguyen
- Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Botta
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steffen B E Wolff
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christian Müller
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cyril Herry
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Philip Tovote
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicolas Singewald
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Lüthi
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stéphane Ciocchi
- Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
A thalamo-amygdalar circuit underlying the extinction of remote fear memories. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:964-974. [PMID: 34017129 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00856-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fear and trauma generate some of the longest-lived memories. Despite the corresponding need to understand how such memories can be attenuated, the underlying brain circuits remain unknown. Here, combining viral tracing, neuronal activity mapping, fiber photometry, chemogenetic and closed-loop optogenetic manipulations in mice, we show that the extinction of remote (30-day-old) fear memories depends on thalamic nucleus reuniens (NRe) inputs to the basolateral amygdala (BLA). We found that remote, but not recent (1-day-old), fear extinction activates NRe-to-BLA inputs, which become potentiated upon fear reduction. Furthermore, both monosynaptic NRe-to-BLA and total NRe activity increase shortly before freezing cessation, suggesting that the NRe registers and transmits safety signals to the BLA. Accordingly, pan-NRe and pathway-specific NRe-to-BLA inhibition impairs, whereas their activation facilitates, remote fear extinction. These findings identify the NRe as a crucial BLA regulator for extinction and provide the first functional description of the circuits underlying the attenuation of consolidated fear memories.
Collapse
|
49
|
Tsotsokou G, Nikolakopoulou M, Kouvelas ED, Mitsacos A. Neonatal maternal separation affects metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 expression and anxiety-related behavior of adult rats. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4550-4564. [PMID: 34137089 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to early life stress leads to long-term neurochemical and behavioral alterations. Stress-induced psychiatric disorders, such as depression, have recently been linked to dysregulation of glutamate signaling, mainly via its postsynaptic receptors. The role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in stress-induced psychopathology has been the target of several studies in humans. In rodents, blockade of mGluR5 produces antidepressant-like actions, whereas mice lacking mGluR5 exhibit altered anxiety-like behaviors and learning. In this study, we used well-known rodent models of early life stress based on mother-infant separation during the first 3 weeks of life in order to examine the effects of neonatal maternal separation on mGluR5 expression and on anxiety-related behavior in adulthood. We observed that brief (15 min) neonatal maternal separation, but not prolonged (3 h), induced increases in mGluR5 mRNA and protein expression levels in medial prefrontal cortex and mGluR5 protein levels in dorsal, but not ventral, hippocampus of adult rat brain. Behavioral testing using the open-field and the elevated-plus maze tasks showed that brief maternal separations resulted in increased exploratory and decreased anxiety-related behavior, whereas prolonged maternal separations resulted in increased anxiety-related behavior in adulthood. The data indicate that the long-lasting effects of neonatal mother-offspring separation on anxiety-like behavior and mGluR5 expression depend on the duration of maternal separation and suggest that the increased mGluR5 receptors in medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of adult rats exposed to brief neonatal maternal separations may underlie their heightened ability to cope with stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giota Tsotsokou
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Maria Nikolakopoulou
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Elias D Kouvelas
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Ada Mitsacos
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Physiology, University Campus, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Reyes-García SE, Escobar ML. Calcineurin Participation in Hebbian and Homeostatic Plasticity Associated With Extinction. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:685838. [PMID: 34220454 PMCID: PMC8242195 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.685838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In nature, animals need to adapt to constant changes in their environment. Learning and memory are cognitive capabilities that allow this to happen. Extinction, the reduction of a certain behavior or learning previously established, refers to a very particular and interesting type of learning that has been the basis of a series of therapies to diminish non-adaptive behaviors. In recent years, the exploration of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this type of learning has received increasing attention. Hebbian plasticity (the activity-dependent modification of the strength or efficacy of synaptic transmission), and homeostatic plasticity (the homeostatic regulation of plasticity) constitute processes intimately associated with memory formation and maintenance. Particularly, long-term depression (LTD) has been proposed as the underlying mechanism of extinction, while the protein phosphatase calcineurin (CaN) has been widely related to both the extinction process and LTD. In this review, we focus on the available evidence that sustains CaN modulation of LTD and its association with extinction. Beyond the classic view, we also examine the interconnection among extinction, Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity, as well as emergent evidence of the participation of kinases and long-term potentiation (LTP) on extinction learning, highlighting the importance of the balance between kinases and phosphatases in the expression of extinction. Finally, we also integrate data that shows the association between extinction and less-studied phenomena, such as synaptic silencing and engram formation that open new perspectives in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salma E Reyes-García
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología del Aprendizaje y la Memoria, División de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Martha L Escobar
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología del Aprendizaje y la Memoria, División de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|