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Ricci A, Rubino E, Serra GP, Wallén-Mackenzie Å. Concerning neuromodulation as treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorder: Insights gained from selective targeting of the subthalamic nucleus, para-subthalamic nucleus and zona incerta in rodents. Neuropharmacology 2024; 256:110003. [PMID: 38789078 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110003] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Neuromodulation such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) is advancing as a clinical intervention in several neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease, dystonia, tremor, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for which DBS is already applied to alleviate severely afflicted individuals of symptoms. Tourette syndrome and drug addiction are two additional disorders for which DBS is in trial or proposed as treatment. However, some major remaining obstacles prevent this intervention from reaching its full therapeutic potential. Side-effects have been reported, and not all DBS-treated individuals are relieved of their symptoms. One major target area for DBS electrodes is the subthalamic nucleus (STN) which plays important roles in motor, affective and associative functions, with impact on for example movement, motivation, impulsivity, compulsivity, as well as both reward and aversion. The multifunctionality of the STN is complex. Decoding the anatomical-functional organization of the STN could enhance strategic targeting in human patients. The STN is located in close proximity to zona incerta (ZI) and the para-subthalamic nucleus (pSTN). Together, the STN, pSTN and ZI form a highly heterogeneous and clinically important brain area. Rodent-based experimental studies, including opto- and chemogenetics as well as viral-genetic tract tracings, provide unique insight into complex neuronal circuitries and their impact on behavior with high spatial and temporal precision. This research field has advanced tremendously over the past few years. Here, we provide an inclusive review of current literature in the pre-clinical research fields centered around STN, pSTN and ZI in laboratory mice and rats; the three highly heterogeneous and enigmatic structures brought together in the context of relevance for treatment strategies. Specific emphasis is placed on methods of manipulation and behavioral impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Ricci
- Uppsala University, Department of Organism Biology, 756 32 Uppsala, Sweden; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Eleonora Rubino
- Uppsala University, Department of Organism Biology, 756 32 Uppsala, Sweden; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Gian Pietro Serra
- Uppsala University, Department of Organism Biology, 756 32 Uppsala, Sweden; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Åsa Wallén-Mackenzie
- Uppsala University, Department of Organism Biology, 756 32 Uppsala, Sweden; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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Rojas AKP, Linley SB, Vertes RP. Chemogenetic inactivation of the nucleus reuniens and its projections to the orbital cortex produce deficits on discrete measures of behavioral flexibility in the attentional set-shifting task. Behav Brain Res 2024; 470:115066. [PMID: 38801950 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115066] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The nucleus reuniens (RE) of the ventral midline thalamus is a critical node in the communication between the orbitomedial prefrontal cortex (OFC) and the hippocampus (HF). While RE has been shown to directly participate in memory-associated functions through its connections with the medial prefrontal cortex and HF, less is known regarding the role of RE in executive functioning. Here, we examined the involvement of RE and its projections to the orbital cortex (ORB) in attention and behavioral flexibility in male rats using the attentional set shifting task (AST). Rats expressing the hM4Di DREADD receptor in RE were implanted with indwelling cannulas in either RE or the ventromedial ORB to pharmacologically inhibit RE or its projections to the ORB with intracranial infusions of clozapine-N-oxide hydrochloride (CNO). Chemogenetic-induced suppression of RE resulted in impairments in reversal learning and set-shifting. This supports a vital role for RE in behavioral flexibility - or the ability to adapt behavior to changing reward or rule contingencies. Interestingly, CNO suppression of RE projections to the ventromedial ORB produced impairments in rule abstraction - or dissociable effects elicited with direct RE suppression. In summary, the present findings indicate that RE, mediated in part by actions on the ORB, serves a critical role in the flexible use of rules to drive goal directed behavior. The cognitive deficits of various neurological disorders with impaired communication between the HF and OFC, may be partly attributed to alterations of RE -- as an established intermediary between these cortical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K P Rojas
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Stephanie B Linley
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Robert P Vertes
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
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Panzer E, Guimares-Olmo I, Pereira de Vasconcelos A, Stéphan A, Cassel JC. In relentless pursuit of the white whale: A role for the ventral midline thalamus in behavioral flexibility and adaption? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105762. [PMID: 38857666 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105762] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The reuniens (Re) nucleus is located in the ventral midline thalamus. It has fostered increasing interest, not only for its participation in a variety of cognitive functions (e.g., spatial working memory, systemic consolidation, reconsolidation, extinction of fear or generalization), but also for its neuroanatomical positioning as a bidirectional relay between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus (HIP). In this review we compile and discuss recent studies having tackled a possible implication of the Re nucleus in behavioral flexibility, a major PFC-dependent executive function controlling goal-directed behaviors. Experiments considered explored a possible role for the Re nucleus in perseveration, reversal learning, fear extinction, and set-shifting. They point to a contribution of this nucleus to behavioral flexibility, mainly by its connections with the PFC, but possibly also by those with the hippocampus, and even with the amygdala, at least for fear-related behavior. As such, the Re nucleus could be a crucial crossroad supporting a PFC-orchestrated ability to cope with new, potentially unpredictable environmental contingencies, and thus behavioral flexibility and adaption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Panzer
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg F-67000, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Isabella Guimares-Olmo
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg F-67000, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Anne Pereira de Vasconcelos
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg F-67000, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Aline Stéphan
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg F-67000, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Cassel
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg F-67000, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, Strasbourg F-67000, France.
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4
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Liu Y, Ye S, Li XN, Li WG. Memory Trace for Fear Extinction: Fragile yet Reinforceable. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:777-794. [PMID: 37812300 PMCID: PMC11178705 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01129-3] [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: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear extinction is a biological process in which learned fear behavior diminishes without anticipated reinforcement, allowing the organism to re-adapt to ever-changing situations. Based on the behavioral hypothesis that extinction is new learning and forms an extinction memory, this new memory is more readily forgettable than the original fear memory. The brain's cellular and synaptic traces underpinning this inherently fragile yet reinforceable extinction memory remain unclear. Intriguing questions are about the whereabouts of the engram neurons that emerged during extinction learning and how they constitute a dynamically evolving functional construct that works in concert to store and express the extinction memory. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the engram circuits and their neural connectivity plasticity for fear extinction, aiming to establish a conceptual framework for understanding the dynamic competition between fear and extinction memories in adaptive control of conditioned fear responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shuai Ye
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin-Ni Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei-Guang Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Diehl MM, Moscarello JM, Trask S. Behavioral outputs and overlapping circuits between conditional fear and active avoidance. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 213:107943. [PMID: 38821256 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107943] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Aversive learning can produce a wide variety of defensive behavioral responses depending on the circumstances, ranging from reactive responses like freezing to proactive avoidance responses. While most of this initial learning is behaviorally supported by an expectancy of an aversive outcome and neurally supported by activity within the basolateral amygdala, activity in other brain regions become necessary for the execution of defensive strategies that emerge in other aversive learning paradigms such as active avoidance. Here, we review the neural circuits that support both reactive and proactive defensive behaviors that are motivated by aversive learning, and identify commonalities between the neural substrates of these distinct (and often exclusive) behavioral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Diehl
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | | | - Sydney Trask
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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Lopez MR, Wasberg SMH, Gagliardi CM, Normandin ME, Muzzio IA. Mystery of the memory engram: History, current knowledge, and unanswered questions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105574. [PMID: 38331127 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105574] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
The quest to understand the memory engram has intrigued humans for centuries. Recent technological advances, including genetic labelling, imaging, optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques, have propelled the field of memory research forward. These tools have enabled researchers to create and erase memory components. While these innovative techniques have yielded invaluable insights, they often focus on specific elements of the memory trace. Genetic labelling may rely on a particular immediate early gene as a marker of activity, optogenetics may activate or inhibit one specific type of neuron, and imaging may capture activity snapshots in a given brain region at specific times. Yet, memories are multifaceted, involving diverse arrays of neuronal subpopulations, circuits, and regions that work in concert to create, store, and retrieve information. Consideration of contributions of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons, micro and macro circuits across brain regions, the dynamic nature of active ensembles, and representational drift is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Lopez
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - S M H Wasberg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - C M Gagliardi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - M E Normandin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - I A Muzzio
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Rivera Núñez MV, McMakin D, Mattfeld AT. Nucleus Reuniens: Modulating Negative Overgeneralization in Periadolescents with Anxiety. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567068. [PMID: 38014058 PMCID: PMC10680726 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Anxiety affects 4.4-million children in the United States with an onset between childhood and adolescence, a period marked by neural changes that impact emotions and memory. Negative overgeneralization - or responding similarly to innocuous events that share features with past aversive experiences - is common in anxiety but remains mechanistically underspecified. The nucleus reuniens (RE) has been considered a crucial candidate in the modulation of memory specificity. Our study investigated its activation and functional connectivity with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus (HPC) as neurobiological mechanisms of negative overgeneralization in anxious youth. Methods As part of a secondary data analysis, we examined data from 34 participants between 9-14 years (mean age ± SD, 11.4 ± 2.0 years, 16 females) with varying degrees of anxiety severity. During the Study session participants rated images as negative, neutral, and positive. After 12-hours, participants returned for a Test session, where they performed a memory recognition test with repeated (targets) and similar (lures) images. Labeling negative relative to neutral lures as "old" (false alarms) was our operational definition of negative overgeneralization. Results Negative relative to neutral false alarmed stimuli displayed elevated RE activation (at Study and Test) and increased functional connectivity with the CA1 (at Test only). Elevated anxiety severity was associated with reductions in the RE-mPFC functional coupling for neutral relative to negative stimuli. Exploratory analyses revealed similar patterns in activation and functional connectivity with positive stimuli. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the importance of the RE in the overgeneralization of memories in anxious youth.
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Ratigan HC, Krishnan S, Smith S, Sheffield MEJ. A thalamic-hippocampal CA1 signal for contextual fear memory suppression, extinction, and discrimination. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6758. [PMID: 37875465 PMCID: PMC10598272 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42429-6] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The adaptive regulation of fear memories is a crucial neural function that prevents inappropriate fear expression. Fear memories can be acquired through contextual fear conditioning (CFC) which relies on the hippocampus. The thalamic nucleus reuniens (NR) is necessary to extinguish contextual fear and innervates hippocampal CA1. However, the role of the NR-CA1 pathway in contextual fear is unknown. We developed a head-restrained virtual reality CFC paradigm, and demonstrate that mice can acquire and extinguish context-dependent fear responses. We found that inhibiting the NR-CA1 pathway following CFC lengthens the duration of fearful freezing epochs, increases fear generalization, and delays fear extinction. Using in vivo imaging, we recorded NR-axons innervating CA1 and found that NR-axons become tuned to fearful freezing following CFC. We conclude that the NR-CA1 pathway actively suppresses fear by disrupting contextual fear memory retrieval in CA1 during fearful freezing behavior, a process that also reduces fear generalization and accelerates extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Ratigan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA
| | - Seetha Krishnan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA
| | - Shai Smith
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA
| | - Mark E J Sheffield
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA.
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA.
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60615, USA.
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Du L, Wu Y, Jia Q, Li J, Li Y, Ma H, Fan Z, Guo X, Li L, Peng Y, Li J, Fang Z, Zhang X. Autophagy Suppresses Ferroptosis by Degrading TFR1 to Alleviate Cognitive Dysfunction in Mice with SAE. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:3605-3622. [PMID: 37341832 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01370-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a serious complication of sepsis that is characterized by long-term cognitive impairment, which imposes a heavy burden on families and society. However, its pathological mechanism has not been elucidated. Ferroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death that is involved in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. In the current study, we found that ferroptosis also participated in the pathological process of cognitive dysfunction in SAE, while Liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) effectively inhibited ferroptosis and alleviated cognitive impairment. Additionally, since an increasing number of studies have suggested the crosstalk between autophagy and ferroptosis, we further proved the essential role of autophagy in this process and demonstrated the key molecular mechanism of the autophagy-ferroptosis interaction. Currently, we showed that autophagy in the hippocampus was downregulated within 3 days of lipopolysaccharide injection into the lateral ventricle. Moreover, enhancing autophagy ameliorated cognitive dysfunction. Importantly, we found that autophagy suppressed ferroptosis by downregulating transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) in the hippocampus, thereby alleviating cognitive impairment in mice with SAE. In conclusion, our findings indicated that hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis is associated with cognitive impairment. In addition, enhancing autophagy can inhibit ferroptosis via degradation of TFR1 to ameliorate cognitive impairment in SAE, which shed new light on the prevention and therapy for SAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Du
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - You Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qi Jia
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hongwei Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhongmin Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaofeng Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuliang Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zongping Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China.
- Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, School of Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China.
| | - Xijing Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Department of Intensive Care Unit, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China.
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Shih CW, Chang CH. Inactivation of medial or lateral orbitofrontal cortex during fear extinction did not interfere with fear renewal. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 204:107800. [PMID: 37524199 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107800] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Hyperactive orbitofrontal cortical activation is commonly seen in patients of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Previous studies from our laboratory showed that for rats with aberrant activation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during the extinction phase, they were unable to use contexts as the reference for proper retrieval of fear memory during renewal test. This result supported the phenomenon that many OCD patients show poor regulation of fear-related behavior. Since there are robust anatomical connections of the OFC with the fear-circuit, we aim to further examine whether the OFC is actively engaged in fear regulation under normal circumstances. In this study, the lateral or medial OFC was inactivated during the extinction phase using the ABA fear renewal procedure. We found that these animals showed intact fear renewal during retrieval test with their freezing levels equivalent to the control rats, revealing that the OFC did not have decisive roles in extinction acquisition. Together with our previous study, we suggest that the OFC only interferes with fear regulation when it becomes pathophysiologically hyperactive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Wei Shih
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hui Chang
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
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Yip KYT, Gräff J. Tissue clearing applications in memory engram research. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1181818. [PMID: 37700912 PMCID: PMC10493294 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1181818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A memory engram is thought to be the physical substrate of the memory trace within the brain, which is generally depicted as a neuronal ensemble activated by learning to fire together during encoding and retrieval. It has been postulated that engram cell ensembles are functionally interconnected across multiple brain regions to store a single memory as an "engram complex", but visualizing this engram complex across the whole brain has for long been hindered by technical limitations. With the recent development of tissue clearing techniques, advanced light-sheet microscopy, and automated 3D image analysis, it has now become possible to generate a brain-wide map of engram cells and thereby to visualize the "engram complex". In this review, we first provide a comprehensive summary of brain-wide engram mapping studies to date. We then compile a guide on implementing the optimal tissue clearing technique for engram tagging approaches, paying particular attention to visualize engram reactivation as a critical mnemonic property, for which whole-brain multiplexed immunostaining becomes a challenging prerequisite. Finally, we highlight the potential of tissue clearing to simultaneously shed light on both the circuit connectivity and molecular underpinnings of engram cells in a single snapshot. In doing so, novel brain regions and circuits can be identified for subsequent functional manipulation, thus providing an opportunity to robustly examine the "engram complex" underlying memory storage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johannes Gräff
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Ratigan HC, Krishnan S, Smith S, Sheffield MEJ. Direct Thalamic Inputs to Hippocampal CA1 Transmit a Signal That Suppresses Ongoing Contextual Fear Memory Retrieval. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2729263. [PMID: 37034716 PMCID: PMC10081386 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2729263/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Memory retrieval of fearful experiences is essential for survival but can be maladaptive if not appropriately suppressed. Fear memories can be acquired through contextual fear conditioning (CFC) which relies on the hippocampus. The thalamic subregion Nucleus Reuniens (NR) is necessary for contextual fear extinction and strongly projects to hippocampal subregion CA1. However, the NR-CA1 pathway has not been investigated during behavior, leaving unknown its role in contextual fear memory retrieval. We implement a novel head-restrained virtual reality CFC paradigm and show that inactivation of the NR-CA1 pathway prolongs fearful freezing epochs, induces fear generalization, and delays extinction. We use in vivo sub-cellular imaging to specifically record NR-axons innervating CA1 before and after CFC. We find NR-axons become selectively tuned to freezing only after CFC, and this activity is well-predicted by an encoding model. We conclude that the NR-CA1 pathway actively suppresses fear responses by disrupting ongoing hippocampal-dependent contextual fear memory retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C. Ratigan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
| | - Seetha Krishnan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
| | - Shai Smith
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
| | - Mark E. J. Sheffield
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
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Ratigan HC, Krishnan S, Smith S, Sheffield MEJ. Direct Thalamic Inputs to Hippocampal CA1 Transmit a Signal That Suppresses Ongoing Contextual Fear Memory Retrieval. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.27.534420. [PMID: 37034812 PMCID: PMC10081195 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.27.534420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Memory retrieval of fearful experiences is essential for survival but can be maladaptive if not appropriately suppressed. Fear memories can be acquired through contextual fear conditioning (CFC) which relies on the hippocampus. The thalamic subregion Nucleus Reuniens (NR) is necessary for contextual fear extinction and strongly projects to hippocampal subregion CA1. However, the NR-CA1 pathway has not been investigated during behavior, leaving unknown its role in contextual fear memory retrieval. We implement a novel head-restrained virtual reality CFC paradigm and show that inactivation of the NR-CA1 pathway prolongs fearful freezing epochs, induces fear generalization, and delays extinction. We use in vivo sub-cellular imaging to specifically record NR-axons innervating CA1 before and after CFC. We find NR-axons become selectively tuned to freezing only after CFC, and this activity is well-predicted by an encoding model. We conclude that the NR-CA1 pathway actively suppresses fear responses by disrupting ongoing hippocampal-dependent contextual fear memory retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C. Ratigan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
| | - Seetha Krishnan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
| | - Shai Smith
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
| | - Mark E. J. Sheffield
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
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14
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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".
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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.
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15
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Bozic I, Rusterholz T, Mikutta C, Del Rio-Bermudez C, Nissen C, Adamantidis A. Coupling between the prelimbic cortex, nucleus reuniens, and hippocampus during NREM sleep remains stable under cognitive and homeostatic demands. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:106-128. [PMID: 36310348 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15853] [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: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The interplay between the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep contributes to the consolidation of contextual memories. To assess the role of the thalamic nucleus reuniens (Nre) in this interaction, we investigated the coupling of neuro-oscillatory activities among prelimbic cortex, Nre, and hippocampus across sleep states and their role in the consolidation of contextual memories using multi-site electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic manipulations. We showed that ripples are time-locked to the Up state of cortical slow waves, the transition from UP to DOWN state in thalamic slow waves, the troughs of cortical spindles, and the peaks of thalamic spindles during spontaneous sleep, rebound sleep and sleep following a fear conditioning task. In addition, spiking activity in Nre increased before hippocampal ripples, and the phase-locking of hippocampal ripples and thalamic spindles during NREM sleep was stronger after acquisition of a fear memory. We showed that optogenetic inhibition of Nre neurons reduced phase-locking of ripples to cortical slow waves in the ventral hippocampus whilst their activation altered the preferred phase of ripples to slow waves in ventral and dorsal hippocampi. However, none of these optogenetic manipulations of Nre during sleep after acquisition of fear conditioning did alter sleep-dependent memory consolidation. Collectively, these results showed that Nre is central in modulating hippocampus and cortical rhythms during NREM sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Bozic
- Zentrum für Experimentelle Neurologie, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Rusterholz
- Zentrum für Experimentelle Neurologie, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mikutta
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Privatklinik Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzerland.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carlos Del Rio-Bermudez
- Zentrum für Experimentelle Neurologie, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Nissen
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Adamantidis
- Zentrum für Experimentelle Neurologie, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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16
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Vertes RP, Linley SB, Rojas AKP. Structural and functional organization of the midline and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:964644. [PMID: 36082310 PMCID: PMC9445584 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.964644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The midline and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus form a major part of the "limbic thalamus;" that is, thalamic structures anatomically and functionally linked with the limbic forebrain. The midline nuclei consist of the paraventricular (PV) and paratenial nuclei, dorsally and the rhomboid and nucleus reuniens (RE), ventrally. The rostral intralaminar nuclei (ILt) consist of the central medial (CM), paracentral (PC) and central lateral (CL) nuclei. We presently concentrate on RE, PV, CM and CL nuclei of the thalamus. The nucleus reuniens receives a diverse array of input from limbic-related sites, and predominantly projects to the hippocampus and to "limbic" cortices. The RE participates in various cognitive functions including spatial working memory, executive functions (attention, behavioral flexibility) and affect/fear behavior. The PV receives significant limbic-related afferents, particularly the hypothalamus, and mainly distributes to "affective" structures of the forebrain including the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, nucleus accumbens and the amygdala. Accordingly, PV serves a critical role in "motivated behaviors" such as arousal, feeding/consummatory behavior and drug addiction. The rostral ILt receives both limbic and sensorimotor-related input and distributes widely over limbic and motor regions of the frontal cortex-and throughout the dorsal striatum. The intralaminar thalamus is critical for maintaining consciousness and directly participates in various sensorimotor functions (visuospatial or reaction time tasks) and cognitive tasks involving striatal-cortical interactions. As discussed herein, while each of the midline and intralaminar nuclei are anatomically and functionally distinct, they collectively serve a vital role in several affective, cognitive and executive behaviors - as major components of a brainstem-diencephalic-thalamocortical circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P. Vertes
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Stephanie B. Linley
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Psychological Science, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA, United States
| | - Amanda K. P. Rojas
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
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17
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Vasudevan K, Ramanathan KR, Vierkant V, Maren S. Nucleus reuniens inactivation does not impair consolidation or reconsolidation of fear extinction. LEARNING & MEMORY (COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y.) 2022; 29:216-222. [PMID: 35902273 PMCID: PMC9374271 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053611.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent data reveal that the thalamic nucleus reuniens (RE) has a critical role in the extinction of conditioned fear. Muscimol (MUS) infusions into the RE impair within-session extinction of conditioned freezing and result in poor long-term extinction memories in rats. Although this suggests that RE inactivation impairs extinction learning, it is also possible that it is involved in the consolidation of extinction memories. To examine this possibility, we examined the effects of RE inactivation on the consolidation and reconsolidation of fear extinction in male and female rats. Twenty-four hours after auditory fear conditioning, rats underwent an extinction procedure (45 CS-alone trials) in a novel context and were infused with saline (SAL) or MUS within minutes of the final extinction trial. Twenty-four hours later, conditioned freezing to the extinguished CS was assessed in the extinction context. Postextinction inactivation of the RE did not affect extinction retrieval. In a second experiment, rats underwent extinction training and, 24 h later, were presented with a single CS to reactivate the extinction memory; rats were infused with SAL or MUS immediately after the reactivation session. Pharmacological inactivation of the RE did not affect conditioned freezing measured in a drug-free retrieval test the following day. Importantly, we found in a subsequent test that MUS infusions immediately before retrieval testing increased conditioned freezing and impaired extinction retrieval, as we have previously reported. These results indicate that although RE inactivation impairs the expression of extinction, it does not impair either the consolidation or reconsolidation of extinction memories. We conclude that the RE may have a critical role in suppressing context-inappropriate fear memories in the extinction context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithika Vasudevan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Karthik R Ramanathan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Valerie Vierkant
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
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18
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Lee J, Kim N, Jeong H, Jun JY, Yoo SY, Lee SH, Lee J, Lee YJ, Kim SJ. Gray Matter Volume of Thalamic Nuclei in Traumatized North Korean Refugees. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:756202. [PMID: 35573348 PMCID: PMC9095986 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.756202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated differences in the regional gray matter (GM) volume of specific thalamic nuclei between North Korean (NK) refugees and South Korean (SK) residents. It also investigated associations between thalamic GM volume changes and psychological symptoms. Psychological evaluations and magnetic resonance imaging were conducted on 50 traumatized NK refugees and 55 non-traumatized SK residents. The regional GM volume ratios in the bilateral thalami were calculated for all participants using voxel-based morphometry. NK refugees showed greater GM volume ratios in the right medial-posterior nuclei and left medial nuclei compared with SK residents. NK refugees also exhibited more depressive symptoms than SK residents. However, increased GM volume ratios in both right medial-posterior nuclei and left medial nuclei were correlated with fewer depressive symptoms in NK refugees, but not in SK residents. The findings indicate that traumatized NK refugees had increased GM volumes in the right medial-posterior nuclei and left medial nuclei, which were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. The enlarged specific thalamic nuclei presented among refugees in the current study might be associated with a neurobiological compensatory mechanism that prevents the development or progression of depression in refugees after repetitive traumatic experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiye Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Nambeom Kim
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hyunwoo Jeong
- Geumsan-gun Public Health Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin Yong Jun
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - So Young Yoo
- Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - So Hee Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jooyoung Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yu Jin Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seog Ju Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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19
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Maren S. Unrelenting Fear Under Stress: Neural Circuits and Mechanisms for the Immediate Extinction Deficit. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:888461. [PMID: 35520882 PMCID: PMC9062589 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.888461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic interventions for disorders of fear and anxiety rely on behavioral approaches that reduce pathological fear memories. For example, learning that threat-predictive stimuli are no longer associated with aversive outcomes is central to the extinction of conditioned fear responses. Unfortunately, fear memories are durable, long-lasting, and resistant to extinction, particularly under high levels of stress. This is illustrated by the “immediate extinction deficit,” which is characterized by a poor long-term reduction of conditioned fear when extinction procedures are attempted within hours of fear conditioning. Here, I will review recent work that has provided new insight into the neural mechanisms underlying resistance to fear extinction. Emerging studies reveal that locus coeruleus norepinephrine modulates amygdala-prefrontal cortical circuits that are critical for extinction learning. These data suggest that stress-induced activation of brain neuromodulatory systems biases fear memory at the expense of extinction learning. Behavioral and pharmacological strategies to reduce stress in patients undergoing exposure therapy might improve therapeutic outcomes.
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20
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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.
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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.
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21
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Ornelas LC, Van Voorhies K, Besheer J. The role of the nucleus reuniens in regulating contextual conditioning with the predator odor TMT in female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3411-3421. [PMID: 34390359 PMCID: PMC8629918 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05957-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Experiencing intrusive distressing memories of a traumatic event(s) is a prominent symptom profile for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms associated with this symptom profile can be invaluable for effective treatment for PTSD. OBJECTIVES Here, we investigated the functional role of the nucleus reuniens (RE), a midline thalamic in modulating stressor-related memory. METHODS Female Long Evans rats were implanted with a cannula aimed at the RE. The RE was pharmacologically inactivated via muscimol (0.5 mM) prior to exposure to the predator odor stressor trimethylthiazoline (TMT; synthetically derived fox feces component) or water (controls) in a distinct context with bedding material (experiment 1) or no bedding (experiment 2). To measure context reactivity, the index of the contextual memory, 2 weeks following exposure to TMT, rats were re-exposed to the TMT-paired context (in the absence of TMT). RESULTS In experiment 1, during context re-exposure (with bedding), inactivation of the RE had no effect on context reactivity. In experiment 2, during context re-exposure (no bedding), rats previously exposed to TMT showed decreased immobility compared to controls, indicating reactivity to the context and likely related to theincreased exploration of the environment. Rats in the TMT group that received RE inactivation showed increased immobility relative to rats that received aCSF, suggesting that muscimol pre-treatment blunted context reactivity. CONCLUSION In conclusion, recruitment of the RE in stressor-related contextual memory appears to be dependent on the contextual environment and whether the animal is able to engage in different stress coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Ornelas
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Kalynn Van Voorhies
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7171, USA.
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22
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The Role of NMDAR and BDNF in Cognitive Dysfunction Induced by Different Microwave Radiation Conditions in Rats. RADIATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/radiation1040023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: To investigate the effects of different levels of microwave radiation on learning and memory in Wistar rats and explore the underlying mechanisms of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR/NR) and Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF); Methods: A total of 140 Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation levels of 0, 10, 30 or 50 mW/cm2 for 6 min. Morris Water Maze Test, high-performance liquid chromatography, Transmission Electron Microscope and Western blotting were used; Results: The 30 and 50 mW/cm2 groups exhibited longer average escape latencies and fewer platform crossings than the 0 mW/cm2 group from 6 h to 3 d after microwave radiation. Alterations in the amino acid neurotransmitters of the hippocampi were shown at 6 h, 3 d and 7 d after exposure to 10, 30 or 50 mW/cm2 microwave radiation. The length and width of the Postsynaptic density were increased. The expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B increased from day 1 to day 7; Postsynaptic density protein-95 and cortactin expression increased from day 3 to day 7; BDNF and Tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) expression increased between 6 h and 1 d after 30 mW/cm2 microwave radiation exposure, but they decreased after 50mW/cm2 exposure. Conclusions: Microwave exposure (30 or 50 mW/cm2, for 6 min) may cause abnormalities in neurotransmitter release and synaptic structures, resulting in impaired learning and memory; BDNF and NMDAR-related signaling molecules might contribute differently to these alterations.
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23
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Steuber ER, Seligowski AV, Roeckner AR, Reda M, Lebois LAM, van Rooij SJH, Murty VP, Ely TD, Bruce SE, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Zeng D, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Rauch SL, Lewandowski C, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Swor RA, McGrath ME, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Chang AM, Pearson C, Peak DA, Domeier RM, O'Neil BJ, Rathlev NK, Sanchez LD, Pietrzak RH, Joormann J, Barch DM, Pizzagalli DA, Elliott JM, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, McLean SA, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T, Harnett NG, Stevens JS. Thalamic volume and fear extinction interact to predict acute posttraumatic stress severity. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 141:325-332. [PMID: 34304036 PMCID: PMC8513112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with lower gray matter volume (GMV) in brain regions critical for extinction of learned threat. However, relationships among volume, extinction learning, and PTSD symptom development remain unclear. We investigated subcortical brain volumes in regions supporting extinction learning and fear-potentiated startle (FPS) to understand brain-behavior interactions that may impact PTSD symptom development in recently traumatized individuals. Participants (N = 99) completed magnetic resonance imaging and threat conditioning two weeks following trauma exposure as part of a multisite observational study to understand the neuropsychiatric effects of trauma (AURORA Study). Participants completed self-assessments of PTSD (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), dissociation, and depression symptoms two- and eight-weeks post-trauma. We completed multiple regressions to investigate relationships between FPS during late extinction, GMV, and PTSD symptom development. The interaction between thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction at two weeks post-trauma predicted PCL-5 scores eight weeks (t (75) = 2.49, β = 0.28, p = 0.015) post-trauma. Higher FPS predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of increased thalamic GMV. Meanwhile, lower FPS also predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of decreased thalamic GMV. Thalamic GMV and FPS interactions also predicted posttraumatic dissociative and depressive symptoms. Amygdala and hippocampus GMV by FPS interactions were not associated with posttraumatic symptom development. Taken together, thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction interact to contribute to adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes. Multimodal assessments soon after trauma have the potential to distinguish key phenotypes vulnerable to posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonia V Seligowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa R Roeckner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mariam Reda
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vishnu P Murty
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven E Bruce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stacey L House
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Francesca L Beaudoin
- Department of Emergency Medicine & Health Services, Policy, and Practice, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Xinming An
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Donglin Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- San Francisco VA Healthcare System and Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gari D Clifford
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Laura T Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; The Many Brains Project, Acton, MA, USA
| | - Scott L Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | | | - Sophia Sheikh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine -Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Christopher W Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Brittany E Punches
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine & University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Robert A Swor
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, MI, USA
| | - Meghan E McGrath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jose L Pascual
- Department of Surgery and Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anna M Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claire Pearson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - David A Peak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert M Domeier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brian J O'Neil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Niels K Rathlev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Leon D Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA & Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jutta Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - James M Elliott
- The Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia; Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Venkataraman A, Hunter SC, Dhinojwala M, Ghebrezadik D, Guo J, Inoue K, Young LJ, Dias BG. Incerto-thalamic modulation of fear via GABA and dopamine. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1658-1668. [PMID: 33864008 PMCID: PMC8280196 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01006-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Fear generalization and deficits in extinction learning are debilitating dimensions of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Most understanding of the neurobiology underlying these dimensions comes from studies of cortical and limbic brain regions. While thalamic and subthalamic regions have been implicated in modulating fear, the potential for incerto-thalamic pathways to suppress fear generalization and rescue deficits in extinction recall remains unexplored. We first used patch-clamp electrophysiology to examine functional connections between the subthalamic zona incerta and thalamic reuniens (RE). Optogenetic stimulation of GABAergic ZI → RE cell terminals in vitro induced inhibitory post-synaptic currents (IPSCs) in the RE. We then combined high-intensity discriminative auditory fear conditioning with cell-type-specific and projection-specific optogenetics in mice to assess functional roles of GABAergic ZI → RE cell projections in modulating fear generalization and extinction recall. In addition, we used a similar approach to test the possibility of fear generalization and extinction recall being modulated by a smaller subset of GABAergic ZI → RE cells, the A13 dopaminergic cell population. Optogenetic stimulation of GABAergic ZI → RE cell terminals attenuated fear generalization and enhanced extinction recall. In contrast, optogenetic stimulation of dopaminergic ZI → RE cell terminals had no effect on fear generalization but enhanced extinction recall in a dopamine receptor D1-dependent manner. Our findings shed new light on the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of ZI-located cells that contribute to adaptive fear by increasing the precision and extinction of learned associations. In so doing, these data reveal novel neuroanatomical substrates that could be therapeutically targeted for treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Venkataraman
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Emory University Neuroscience Graduate Program, Atlanta, GA USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Sarah C. Hunter
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Emory University Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology Undergraduate Program, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Maria Dhinojwala
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Emory University Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology Undergraduate Program, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Diana Ghebrezadik
- grid.251844.e0000 0001 2226 7265Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA USA
| | - JiDong Guo
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Kiyoshi Inoue
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Larry J. Young
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Emory University Neuroscience Graduate Program, Atlanta, GA USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Brian George Dias
- Emory University Neuroscience Graduate Program, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Division of Research on Children, Youth & Families, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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25
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Griffin AL. The nucleus reuniens orchestrates prefrontal-hippocampal synchrony during spatial working memory. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 128:415-420. [PMID: 34217746 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Spatial working memory, the ability to temporarily maintain an internal representation of spatial information for use in guiding upcoming decisions, has been shown to be dependent upon a network of brain structures that includes the hippocampus, a region known to be critical for spatial navigation and episodic memory, and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region known to be critical for executive function and goal directed behavior. Oscillatory synchronization between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is known to increase in situations of high working memory demand. Most of our knowledge about the anatomical connectivity between the PFC and hippocampus comes from the rodent literature. Thus, most of the findings that will be discussed here model human working memory using spatial working memory-dependent maze navigation tasks in rodents. It has been demonstrated that the ventral midline thalamic nucleus reuniens (Re) is reciprocally connected to both the infralimbic and prelimbic subregions of the PFC, collectively referred to as the medial PFC (mPFC), and the hippocampus. Given that the Re serves as a major anatomical route between the mPFC and hippocampus, it is perhaps not surprising that Re has been shown to be critical for spatial working memory. This review will describe the latest findings and ideas on how the Re contributes to prefrontal-hippocampal synchronization and spatial working memory in rodents. The review will conclude with possible future directions that will advance the understanding of the mechanisms that enable the Re to orchestrate long range synchrony in the prefrontal-hippocampal network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Griffin
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711, United States.
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26
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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: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [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.
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27
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Cassel JC, Ferraris M, Quilichini P, Cholvin T, Boch L, Stephan A, Pereira de Vasconcelos A. The reuniens and rhomboid nuclei of the thalamus: A crossroads for cognition-relevant information processing? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 126:338-360. [PMID: 33766671 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Over the past twenty years, the reuniens and rhomboid (ReRh) nuclei, which constitute the ventral midline thalamus, have received constantly growing attention. Since our first review article about the functional contributions of ReRh nuclei (Cassel et al., 2013), numerous (>80) important papers have extended anatomical knowledge, including at a developmental level, introduced new and very original electrophysiological insights on ReRh functions, and brought novel results on cognitive and non-cognitive implications of the ReRh. The current review will cover these recent articles, more on Re than on Rh, and their contribution will be approached according to their affiliation with work before 2013. These neuroanatomical, electrophysiological or behavioral findings appear coherent and point to the ReRh nuclei as two major components of a multistructural system supporting numerous cognitive (and non-cognitive) functions. They gate the flow of information, perhaps especially from the medial prefrontal cortex to the hippocampus and back, and coordinate activity and processing across these two (and possibly other) brain regions of major cognitive relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Cassel
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Maëva Ferraris
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France
| | - Pascale Quilichini
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France
| | - Thibault Cholvin
- Institute for Physiology I, University Clinics Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laurine Boch
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Aline Stephan
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Pereira de Vasconcelos
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
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28
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Understanding the dynamic and destiny of memories. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:592-607. [PMID: 33722616 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Memory formation enables the retention of life experiences overtime. Based on previously acquired information, organisms can anticipate future events and adjust their behaviors to maximize survival. However, in an ever-changing environment, a memory needs to be malleable to maintain its relevance. In fact, substantial evidence suggests that a consolidated memory can become labile and susceptible to modifications after being reactivated, a process termed reconsolidation. When an extinction process takes place, a memory can also be temporarily inhibited by a second memory that carries information with opposite meaning. In addition, a memory can fade and lose its significance in a process known as forgetting. Thus, following retrieval, new life experiences can be integrated with the original memory trace to maintain its predictive value. In this review, we explore the determining factors that regulate the fate of a memory after its reactivation. We focus on three post-retrieval memory destinies (reconsolidation, extinction, and forgetting) and discuss recent rodent studies investigating the biological functions and neural mechanisms underlying each of these processes.
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Zhou K, Zhu L, Hou G, Chen X, Chen B, Yang C, Zhu Y. The Contribution of Thalamic Nuclei in Salience Processing. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:634618. [PMID: 33664657 PMCID: PMC7920982 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.634618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain continuously receives diverse information about the external environment and changes in the homeostatic state. The attribution of salience determines which stimuli capture attention and, therefore, plays an essential role in regulating emotions and guiding behaviors. Although the thalamus is included in the salience network, the neural mechanism of how the thalamus contributes to salience processing remains elusive. In this mini-review, we will focus on recent advances in understanding the specific roles of distinct thalamic nuclei in salience processing. We will summarize the functional connections between thalamus nuclei and other key nodes in the salience network. We will highlight the convergence of neural circuits involved in reward and pain processing, arousal, and attention control in thalamic structures. We will discuss how thalamic activities represent salience information in associative learning and how thalamic neurons modulate adaptive behaviors. Lastly, we will review recent studies which investigate the contribution of thalamic dysfunction to aberrant salience processing in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as drug addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia. Based on emerging evidence from both human and rodent research, we propose that the thalamus, different from previous studies that as an information relay, has a broader role in coordinating the cognitive process and regulating emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuikui Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guoqiang Hou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xueyu Chen
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chuanzhong Yang
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
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30
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Linley SB, Athanason AC, Rojas AK, Vertes RP. Role of the reuniens and rhomboid thalamic nuclei in anxiety‐like avoidance behavior in the rat. Hippocampus 2021; 31:756-769. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B. Linley
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
- Department of Psychology Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
| | | | - Amanda K.P. Rojas
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
| | - Robert P. Vertes
- Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
- Department of Psychology Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA
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31
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Wolff M, Morceau S, Folkard R, Martin-Cortecero J, Groh A. A thalamic bridge from sensory perception to cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 120:222-235. [PMID: 33246018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The ability to adapt to dynamic environments requires tracking multiple signals with variable sensory salience and fluctuating behavioral relevance. This complex process requires integrative crosstalk between sensory and cognitive brain circuits. Functional interactions between cortical and thalamic regions are now considered essential for both sensory perception and cognition but a clear account of the functional link between sensory and cognitive circuits is currently lacking. This review aims to document how thalamic nuclei may effectively act as a bridge allowing to fuse perceptual and cognitive events into meaningful experiences. After highlighting key aspects of thalamocortical circuits such as the classic first-order/higher-order dichotomy, we consider the role of the thalamic reticular nucleus from directed attention to cognition. We next summarize research relying on Pavlovian learning paradigms, showing that both first-order and higher-order thalamic nuclei contribute to associative learning. Finally, we propose that modulator inputs reaching all thalamic nuclei may be critical for integrative purposes when environmental signals are computed. Altogether, the thalamus appears as the bridge linking perception, cognition and possibly affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wolff
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.
| | - S Morceau
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - R Folkard
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Martin-Cortecero
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Groh
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biophysics, Heidelberg University, INF 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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32
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Mathiasen ML, O'Mara SM, Aggleton JP. The anterior thalamic nuclei and nucleus reuniens: So similar but so different. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:268-280. [PMID: 33069688 PMCID: PMC7738755 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Two thalamic sites are of especial significance for understanding hippocampal - diencephalic interactions: the anterior thalamic nuclei and nucleus reuniens. Both nuclei have dense, direct interconnections with the hippocampal formation, and both are directly connected with many of the same cortical and subcortical areas. These two thalamic sites also contain neurons responsive to spatial stimuli while lesions within these two same areas can disrupt spatial learning tasks that are hippocampal dependent. Despite these many similarities, closer analysis reveals important differences in the details of their connectivity and the behavioural impact of lesions in these two thalamic sites. These nuclei play qualitatively different roles that largely reflect the contrasting relative importance of their medial frontal cortex interactions (nucleus reuniens) compared with their retrosplenial, cingulate, and mammillary body interactions (anterior thalamic nuclei). While the anterior thalamic nuclei are critical for multiple aspects of hippocampal spatial encoding and performance, nucleus reuniens contributes, as required, to aid cognitive control and help select correct from competing memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias L Mathiasen
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK
| | - Shane M O'Mara
- School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John P Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK.
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33
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Troyner F, Bertoglio LJ. Nucleus reuniens of the thalamus controls fear memory reconsolidation. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2020; 177:107343. [PMID: 33242589 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The nucleus reuniens has been shown to support the acquisition, consolidation, maintenance, destabilization upon retrieval, and extinction of aversive memories. However, the direct participation of this thalamic subregion in memory reconsolidation is yet to be examined. The present study addressed this question in contextually fear-conditioned rats. Post-reactivation infusion of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol, the glutamate N2A-containing NMDA receptor antagonist TCN-201, or the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin into the NR induced significant impairments in memory reconsolidation. Administering muscimol or TCN-201 and anisomycin locally, or associating locally infused muscimol or TCN-201 with systemically administered clonidine, an α2-receptor adrenergic agonist that attenuates the noradrenergic tonus associated with memory reconsolidation, produced no further reduction in freezing times when compared with the muscimol-vehicle, TCN-201-vehicle, vehicle-anisomycin, and vehicle-clonidine groups. This pattern of results indicates that such treatment combinations produced no additive/synergistic effects on reconsolidation. It is plausible that NR inactivation and antagonism of glutamate N2A-containing NMDA receptors weakened/prevented the subsequent action of anisomycin and clonidine because they disrupted the early stages of signal transduction pathways involved in memory reconsolidation. It is noteworthy that these pharmacological interventions, either alone or combined, induced no contextual memory specificity changes, as assessed in a later test in a novel and unpaired context. Besides, omitting memory reactivation precluded the impairing effects of muscimol, TCN-201, anisomycin, and clonidine on reconsolidation. Together, the present findings demonstrate interacting mechanisms through which the NR can regulate contextual fear memory restabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Troyner
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Leandro Jose Bertoglio
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
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34
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Cruces-Solis H, Nissen W, Ferger B, Arban R. Whole-brain signatures of functional connectivity after bidirectional modulation of the dopaminergic system in mice. Neuropharmacology 2020; 178:108246. [PMID: 32771528 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
While neuropsychiatric drugs influence neural activity across multiple brain regions, the current understanding of their mechanism of action derives from studies that investigate an influence of a given drug onto a pre-selected and small number of brain regions. To understand how neuropsychiatric drugs affect coordinated activity across brain regions and to detect the brain regions most relevant to pharmacological action in an unbiased way, studies that assess brain-wide neuronal activity are paramount. Here, we used whole-brain immunostaining of the neuronal activity marker cFOS, and graph theory to generate brain-wide maps of neuronal activity upon pharmacological challenges. We generated brain-wide maps 2.5 h after treatment of the atypical dopamine transporter inhibitor modafinil (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) or the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor tetrabenazine (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg). Modafinil increased the number of cFOS positive neurons in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, modafinil significantly reduced functional connectivity across the entire brain. Graph theory analysis revealed that modafinil decreased the node degree of cortical and subcortical regions at the three doses tested, followed by a reduction in global efficiency. Simultaneously, we identified highly interconnected hub regions that emerge exclusively upon modafinil treatment. These regions were the mediodorsal thalamus, periaqueductal gray, subiculum, and rhomboid nucleus. On the other hand, while tetrabenazine had mild effects on cFOS counts, it reduced functional connectivity across the entire brain, cortical node degree, and global efficiency. As hub regions, we identified the substantia innominata and ventral pallidum. Our results uncovered novel mechanisms of action at a brain-wide scale for modafinil and tetrabenazine. Our analytical approach offers a tool to characterize signatures of whole-brain functional connectivity for drug candidates and to identify potential undesired effects at a mesoscopic scale. Additionally, it offers a guide towards targeted experiments on newly identified hub regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cruces-Solis
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riß, Germany.
| | - Wiebke Nissen
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riß, Germany
| | - Boris Ferger
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riß, Germany
| | - Roberto Arban
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riß, Germany.
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35
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Thalamic nucleus reuniens regulates fear memory destabilization upon retrieval. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2020; 175:107313. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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36
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Varela C, Wilson MA. mPFC spindle cycles organize sparse thalamic activation and recently active CA1 cells during non-REM sleep. eLife 2020; 9:48881. [PMID: 32525480 PMCID: PMC7319772 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep oscillations in the neocortex and hippocampus are critical for the integration of new memories into stable generalized representations in neocortex. However, the role of the thalamus in this process is poorly understood. To determine the thalamic contribution to non-REM oscillations (sharp-wave ripples, SWRs; slow/delta; spindles), we recorded units and local field potentials (LFPs) simultaneously in the limbic thalamus, mPFC, and CA1 in rats. We report that the cycles of neocortical spindles provide a key temporal window that coordinates CA1 SWRs with sparse but consistent activation of thalamic units. Thalamic units were phase-locked to delta and spindles in mPFC, and fired at consistent lags with other thalamic units within spindles, while CA1 units that were active during spatial exploration were engaged in SWR-coupled spindles after behavior. The sparse thalamic firing could promote an incremental integration of recently acquired memory traces into neocortical schemas through the interleaved activation of thalamocortical cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Varela
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, United States
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