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O'Neill PK, Posani L, Meszaros J, Warren P, Schoonover CE, Fink AJP, Fusi S, Salzman CD. The representational geometry of emotional states in basolateral amygdala. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.23.558668. [PMID: 37790470 PMCID: PMC10542536 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.558668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Sensory stimuli associated with aversive outcomes cause multiple behavioral responses related to an animal's evolving emotional state, but neural mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. Here aversive stimuli were presented to mice, eliciting two responses reflecting fear and flight to safety: tremble and ingress into a virtual burrow. Inactivation of basolateral amygdala (BLA) eliminated differential responses to aversive and neutral stimuli without eliminating responses themselves, suggesting BLA signals valence, not motor commands. However, two-photon imaging revealed that neurons typically exhibited mixed selectivity for stimulus identity, valence, tremble and/or ingress. Despite heterogeneous selectivity, BLA representational geometry was lower-dimensional when encoding valence, tremble and safety, enabling generalization of emotions across conditions. Further, tremble and valence coding directions were orthogonal, allowing linear readouts to specialize. Thus BLA representational geometry confers two computational properties that identify specialized neural circuits encoding variables describing emotional states: generalization across conditions, and readouts lacking interference from other readouts.
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Keskin-Gokcelli D, Kizilates-Evin G, Eroglu-Koc S, Oguz K, Eraslan C, Kitis O, Gonul AS. The effect of emotional faces on reward-related probability learning in depressed patients. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:184-193. [PMID: 38286231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing research indicates that individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) exhibit a bias toward salient negative stimuli. However, the impact of such biased stimuli on concurrent cognitive and affective processes in individuals with depression remains inadequately understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of salient environmental stimuli, specifically emotional faces, on reward-associated processes in MDD. METHODS Thirty-three patients with recurrent MDD and thirty-two healthy controls (HC) matched for age, sex, and education were included in the study. We used a reward-related associative learning (RRAL) task primed with emotional (happy, sad, neutral) faces to investigate the effect of salient stimuli on reward-related learning and decision-making in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants were instructed to ignore emotional faces during the task. The fMRI data were analyzed using a full-factorial general linear model (GLM) in Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM12). RESULTS In depressed patients, cues primed with sad faces were associated with reduced amygdala activation. However, both HC and MDD group exhibited reduced ventral striatal activity while learning reward-related cues and receiving rewards. LIMITATIONS The patients'medication usage was not standardized. CONCLUSIONS This study underscores the functional alteration of the amygdala in response to cognitive tasks presented with negative emotionally salient stimuli in the environment of MDD patients. The observed alterations in amygdala activity suggest potential interconnected effects with other regions of the prefrontal cortex. Understanding the intricate neural connections and their disruptions in depression is crucial for unraveling the complex pathophysiology of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duygu Keskin-Gokcelli
- SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Gozde Kizilates-Evin
- SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Seda Eroglu-Koc
- SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Kaya Oguz
- SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Computer Engineering, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Cenk Eraslan
- SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Omer Kitis
- SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ali Saffet Gonul
- SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mercer School of Medicine, Mercer University, Macon, GA, USA.
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Amedick G, Krylova M, Mayer K, Izyurov I, Herrmann L, Martens L, Kasties V, Heller J, Li M, van der Meer J, Croy I, Engert V, Walter M, Colic L. Association among childhood adversity and susceptibility to interference during varying salience: two studies in healthy males. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7050. [PMID: 38528096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57025-x] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Childhood adversity, a prevalent experience, is related to a higher risk for externalizing and internalizing psychopathology. Alterations in the development of cognitive processes, for example in the attention-interference domain may link childhood adversity and psychopathology. Interfering stimuli can vary in their salience, i.e. ability to capture attentional focus, and valence. However, it is not known if interference by salience or valence is associated with self-reported adversity. In two independent study samples of healthy men (Study 1: n = 44; mean age [standard deviation (SD)] = 25.9 [3.4] years; Study 2: n = 37; 43.5 [9.7] years) we used the attention modulation task (AMT) that probed interference by two attention-modulating conditions, salience and valence separately across repeated target stimuli. The AMT measures the effects of visual distractors (pictures) on the performance of auditory discrimination tasks (target stimuli). We hypothesized that participants reporting higher levels of childhood adversity, measured with the childhood trauma questionnaire, would show sustained interference in trials with lower salience. Due to conflicting reports on the valence-modulation, we tested the valence condition in an exploratory manner. Linear mixed models revealed an interaction between reported childhood adversity and the salience condition across tone presentations in both study samples (Sample 1: p = .03; Sample 2: p = .04), while there were no effects for the valence condition across both studies. Our study suggests that higher self-reported childhood adversity is related to faster processing of target cues during high salience, but slower during low salience conditions. These results hint to the mechanisms linking childhood adversity and psychopathological symptoms in the attentional domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Amedick
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marina Krylova
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Kathrin Mayer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Igor Izyurov
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Luisa Herrmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Louise Martens
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Kasties
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Johanna Heller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Psychology, Center for Mental Health, Hospital Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Johan van der Meer
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Amsterdam UMC, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilona Croy
- Institute for Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health, partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Jena, Germany
| | - Veronika Engert
- German Center for Mental Health, partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health, partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lejla Colic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany.
- German Center for Mental Health, partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Jena, Germany.
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4
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Yu D, Bao L, Yin B. Emotional contagion in rodents: A comprehensive exploration of mechanisms and multimodal perspectives. Behav Processes 2024; 216:105008. [PMID: 38373472 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.105008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Emotional contagion, a fundamental aspect of empathy, is an automatic and unconscious process in which individuals mimic and synchronize with the emotions of others. Extensively studied in rodents, this phenomenon is mediated through a range of sensory pathways, each contributing distinct insights. The olfactory pathway, marked by two types of pheromones modulated by oxytocin, plays a crucial role in transmitting emotional states. The auditory pathway, involving both squeaks and specific ultrasonic vocalizations, correlates with various emotional states and is essential for expression and communication in rodents. The visual pathway, though less relied upon, encompasses observational motions and facial expressions. The tactile pathway, a more recent focus, underscores the significance of physical interactions such as allogrooming and socio-affective touch in modulating emotional states. This comprehensive review not only highlights plausible neural mechanisms but also poses key questions for future research. It underscores the complexity of multimodal integration in emotional contagion, offering valuable insights for human psychology, neuroscience, animal welfare, and the burgeoning field of animal-human-AI interactions, thereby contributing to the development of a more empathetic intelligent future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delin Yu
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China
| | - Lili Bao
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China
| | - Bin Yin
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China.
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Sladky R, Kargl D, Haubensak W, Lamm C. An active inference perspective for the amygdala complex. Trends Cogn Sci 2024; 28:223-236. [PMID: 38103984 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala is a heterogeneous network of subcortical nuclei with central importance in cognitive and clinical neuroscience. Various experimental designs in human psychology and animal model research have mapped multiple conceptual frameworks (e.g., valence/salience and decision making) to ever more refined amygdala circuitry. However, these predominantly bottom up-driven accounts often rely on interpretations tailored to a specific phenomenon, thus preventing comprehensive and integrative theories. We argue here that an active inference model of amygdala function could unify these fractionated approaches into an overarching framework for clearer empirical predictions and mechanistic interpretations. This framework embeds top-down predictive models, informed by prior knowledge and belief updating, within a dynamical system distributed across amygdala circuits in which self-regulation is implemented by continuously tracking environmental and homeostatic demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Sladky
- Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Dominic Kargl
- Department of Neuronal Cell Biology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wulf Haubensak
- Department of Neuronal Cell Biology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Campus Vienna Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
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6
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Ojha A, Jones NP, Henry T, Versace A, Gnagy EM, Joseph HM, Molina BSG, Ladouceur CD. Altered Lateral Prefrontal Cortex Functioning During Emotional Interference Resistance Is Associated With Affect Lability in Adults With Persisting Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder From Childhood. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024:S2451-9022(24)00054-5. [PMID: 38378127 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and/or impulsivity/hyperactivity. ADHD, especially when persisting into adulthood, often includes emotional dysregulation, such as affect lability; however, the neural correlates of emotionality in adults with heterogeneous ADHD symptom persistence remain unclear. METHODS The present study sought to determine shared and distinct functional neuroanatomical profiles of neural circuitry during emotional interference resistance using the emotional face n-back task in adult participants with persisting (n = 47), desisting (n = 93), or no (n = 42) childhood ADHD symptoms while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS Participants without any lifetime ADHD diagnosis performed significantly better (faster and more accurately) than participants with ADHD diagnoses on trials with high cognitive loads (2-back) that included task-irrelevant emotional distractors, tapping into executive functioning and emotion regulatory processes. In participants with persisting ADHD symptoms, more severe emotional symptoms were related to worse task performance. Heightened dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activation was associated with more accurate and faster performance on 2-back emotional faces trials, respectively. Reduced activation was associated with greater affect lability in adults with persisting ADHD, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation mediated the relationship between affect lability and task accuracy. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that alterations in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex function associated with greater interference in cognitive processes from emotion could represent a marker of risk for problems with emotional dysregulation in individuals with persisting ADHD and thus represent a potential therapeutic target for those with greater emotional symptoms of ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Ojha
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Neil P Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Teague Henry
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia; School of Data Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Amelia Versace
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Elizabeth M Gnagy
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - Heather M Joseph
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Brooke S G Molina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Cecile D Ladouceur
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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7
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Funk D, Araujo J, Slassi M, Lanthier J, Atkinson J, Feng D, Lau W, Lê A, Higgins GA. Effect of a single psilocybin treatment on Fos protein expression in male rat brain. Neuroscience 2024; 539:1-11. [PMID: 38184069 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.001] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Psilocybin has received attention as a treatment for depression, stress disorders and drug and alcohol addiction. To help determine the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects, here we examined acute effects of a range of behaviourally relevant psilocybin doses (0.1-3 mg/kg SC) on regional expression of Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene, c-fos in brain areas involved in stress, reward and motivation in male rats. We also determined the cellular phenotypes activated by psilocybin, in a co-labeling analysis with NeuN, a marker of mature neurons, or Olig1, a marker of oligodendrocytes. In adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, psilocybin increased Fos expression dose dependently in several brain regions, including the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, central and basolateral amygdala and locus coeruleus. These effects were most marked in the central amygdala. Double labeling experiments showed that Fos was expressed in both neurons and oligodendrocytes. These results extend previous research by determining Fos expression in multiple brain areas at a wider psilocybin dose range, and the cellular phenotypes expressing Fos. The data also highlight the amygdala, especially the central nucleus, a key brain region involved in emotional processing and learning and interconnected with other brain areas involved in stress, reward and addiction, as a potentially important locus for the therapeutic effects of psilocybin. Overall, the present findings suggest that the central amygdala may be an important site through which the initial brain activation induced by psilocybin is translated into neuroplastic changes, locally and in other regions that underlie its extended therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Funk
- Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto M5S 2S1, Canada.
| | - Joseph Araujo
- Transpharmation Ltd., Fergus N1M 2W8, Canada; Mindset Pharma, Toronto M5V 0R2, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Feng
- Transpharmation Ltd., Fergus N1M 2W8, Canada
| | - Winnie Lau
- Transpharmation Ltd., Fergus N1M 2W8, Canada
| | - Anh Lê
- Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto M5S 2S1, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Guy A Higgins
- Transpharmation Ltd., Fergus N1M 2W8, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
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8
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Kelly EA, Love TM, Fudge JL. Corticotropin-releasing factor-dopamine interactions in male and female macaque: Beyond the classic VTA. Synapse 2024; 78:e22284. [PMID: 37996987 PMCID: PMC10842953 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22284] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is involved in stress and stress-related illnesses, including many psychiatric disorders. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a role in stress responses and targets the ventral midbrain DA system, which is composed of DA and non-DA cells, and divided into specific subregions. Although CRF inputs to the midline A10 nuclei ("classic VTA") are known, in monkeys, CRF-containing terminals are also highly enriched in the expanded A10 parabrachial pigmented nucleus (PBP) and in the A8 retrorubral field subregions. We characterized CRF-labeled synaptic terminals on DA (tyrosine hydroxylase, TH+) and non-DA (TH-) cell types in the PBP and A8 regions using immunoreactive electron microscopy (EM) in male and female macaques. CRF labeling was present mostly in axon terminals, which mainly contacted TH-negative dendrites in both subregions. Most CRF-positive terminals had symmetric profiles. In both PBP and A8, CRF symmetric (putative inhibitory) synapses onto TH-negative dendrites were significantly greater than asymmetric (putative excitatory) profiles. This overall pattern was similar in males and females, despite shifts in the size of these effects between regions depending on sex. Because stress and gonadal hormone shifts can influence CRF expression, we also did hormonal assays over a 6-month time period and found little variability in basal cortisol across similarly housed animals at the same age. Together our findings suggest that at baseline, CRF-positive synaptic terminals in the primate PBP and A8 are poised to regulate DA indirectly through synaptic contacts onto non-DA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Kelly
- Departments of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - T M Love
- Department of Biostatistics, Del Monte Institute of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - J L Fudge
- Departments of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Del Monte Institute of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
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Borkar CD, Stelly CE, Fu X, Dorofeikova M, Le QSE, Vutukuri R, Vo C, Walker A, Basavanhalli S, Duong A, Bean E, Resendez A, Parker JG, Tasker JG, Fadok JP. Top-down control of flight by a non-canonical cortico-amygdala pathway. Nature 2024; 625:743-749. [PMID: 38233522 PMCID: PMC10878556 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06912-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Survival requires the selection of appropriate behaviour in response to threats, and dysregulated defensive reactions are associated with psychiatric illnesses such as post-traumatic stress and panic disorder1. Threat-induced behaviours, including freezing and flight, are controlled by neuronal circuits in the central amygdala (CeA)2; however, the source of neuronal excitation of the CeA that contributes to high-intensity defensive responses is unknown. Here we used a combination of neuroanatomical mapping, in vivo calcium imaging, functional manipulations and electrophysiology to characterize a previously unknown projection from the dorsal peduncular (DP) prefrontal cortex to the CeA. DP-to-CeA neurons are glutamatergic and specifically target the medial CeA, the main amygdalar output nucleus mediating conditioned responses to threat. Using a behavioural paradigm that elicits both conditioned freezing and flight, we found that CeA-projecting DP neurons are activated by high-intensity threats in a context-dependent manner. Functional manipulations revealed that the DP-to-CeA pathway is necessary and sufficient for both avoidance behaviour and flight. Furthermore, we found that DP neurons synapse onto neurons within the medial CeA that project to midbrain flight centres. These results elucidate a non-canonical top-down pathway regulating defensive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrashekhar D Borkar
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Claire E Stelly
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Loyola University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Xin Fu
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Maria Dorofeikova
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Quan-Son Eric Le
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Rithvik Vutukuri
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Catherine Vo
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Alex Walker
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Samhita Basavanhalli
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Anh Duong
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Erin Bean
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Alexis Resendez
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jones G Parker
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Tasker
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jonathan P Fadok
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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10
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Lyons S, Depue BE. Not all bad decisions are alike: approach and avoidant bad decisions are associated with distinct network organization. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1249008. [PMID: 37877010 PMCID: PMC10591088 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1249008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Decisions under ambiguity occurs daily for everyone. Subsequently, we all deliberate upon options to initiate an action most appropriate for current goal demands. Researchers has attempted to identify factors which contribute to risk taking, alongside the neurocircuitry underpinning it. Empirically, uncertain decision making is frequently assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Research have reliably identified varying regions implicating two broader circuits known as the reward and salience networks. However, considerable work has focused on contrasting "good" versus "bad" decisions. Methods The present investigation attempted a unique approach to analyzing the modified IGT acquired during fMRI (n = 24) and focused on active and passive bad decisions to identify potential internetwork connectivity, dissociable connectivity patterns between approach and avoidant bad decisions, and their relationship with personality traits, which can be linked with behavioral approach styles. Results Network cluster analyses revealed general internetwork connectivity when passing (avoiding) good decks; however, the OFC was functionally disconnected from the rest of the selected brain regions when playing (approaching) bad decks. Decreased reward responsiveness was linked to increased functional connectivity between the lateral OFC and aSMG, while drive was associated with increased functional connectivity between dACC and aINS. Discussion We report evidence that approach and avoidant bad decisions are associated with distinct neural communication patterns. Avoidant decisions were marked by substantial network integration and coherence, contrasted with the general scarcity of internetwork communication observed for approach decisions. Furthermore, the present investigation observed preliminary evidence of personality traits linked with neural communication between salience and reward evaluative networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siraj Lyons
- Neuroimaging Laboratory of Cognitive, Affective, and Motoric Processes, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Brendan Eliot Depue
- Neuroimaging Laboratory of Cognitive, Affective, and Motoric Processes, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
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11
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Giovanniello JR, Paredes N, Wiener A, Ramírez-Armenta K, Oragwam C, Uwadia HO, Lim K, Nnamdi G, Wang A, Sehgal M, Reis FM, Sias AC, Silva AJ, Adhikari A, Malvaez M, Wassum KM. A dual-pathway architecture enables chronic stress to promote habit formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560731. [PMID: 37873076 PMCID: PMC10592885 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress can change how we learn and, thus, how we make decisions by promoting the formation of inflexible, potentially maladaptive, habits. Here we investigated the neuronal circuit mechanisms that enable this. Using a multifaceted approach in male and female mice, we reveal a dual pathway, amygdala-striatal, neuronal circuit architecture by which a recent history of chronic stress shapes learning to disrupt flexible goal-directed behavior in favor of inflexible habits. Chronic stress inhibits activity of basolateral amygdala projections to the dorsomedial striatum to impede the action-outcome learning that supports flexible, goal-directed decisions. Stress also increases activity in direct central amygdala projections to the dorsomedial striatum to promote the formation of rigid, inflexible habits. Thus, stress exerts opposing effects on two amygdala-striatal pathways to promote premature habit formation. These data provide neuronal circuit insights into how chronic stress shapes learning and decision making, and help understand how stress can lead to the disrupted decision making and pathological habits that characterize substance use disorders and other psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna Wiener
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | | | | | - Kayla Lim
- Dept. of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Gift Nnamdi
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Alicia Wang
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Megha Sehgal
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | - Ana C Sias
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Kate M Wassum
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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12
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Greiner EM, Witt ME, Moran SJ, Petrovich GD. Activation patterns in male and female forebrain circuitries during food consumption under novelty. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3328570. [PMID: 37790415 PMCID: PMC10543437 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3328570/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The influence of novelty on feeding behavior is significant and can override both homeostatic and hedonic drives due to the uncertainty of potential danger. Previous work found that novel food hypophagia is enhanced in a novel environment and that males habituate faster than females. The current study's aim was to identify the neural substrates of separate effects of food and context novelty. Adult male and female rats were tested for consumption of a novel or family food in either a familiar or in a novel context. Test-induced Fos expression was measured in the amygdalar, thalamic, striatal, and prefrontal cortex regions that are important for appetitive responding, contextual processing, and reward motivation. Food and context novelty induced strikingly different activation patterns. Novel context induced Fos robustly in almost every region analyzed, including the central (CEA) and basolateral complex nuclei of the amygdala, the thalamic paraventricular (PVT) and reuniens nuclei, the nucleus accumbens (ACB), the medial prefrontal cortex prelimbic and infralimbic areas, and the dorsal agranular insular cortex (AI). Novel food induced Fos in a few select regions: the CEA, anterior basomedial nucleus of the amygdala, anterior PVT, and posterior AI. There were also sex differences in activation patterns. The capsular and lateral CEA had greater activation for male groups and the anterior PVT, ACB ventral core and shell had greater activation for female groups. These activation patterns and correlations between regions, suggest that distinct functional circuitries control feeding behavior when food is novel and when eating occurs in a novel environment.
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13
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Dorofeikova M, Stelly CE, Duong A, Basavanhalli S, Bean E, Weissmuller K, Sifnugel N, Resendez A, Corey DM, Tasker JG, Fadok JP. The Role of Genetically Distinct Central Amygdala Neurons in Appetitive and Aversive Responding Assayed with a Novel Dual Valence Operant Conditioning Paradigm. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0319-22.2023. [PMID: 37640541 PMCID: PMC10488222 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0319-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
To survive, animals must meet their biological needs while simultaneously avoiding danger. However, the neurobiological basis of appetitive and aversive survival behaviors has historically been studied using separate behavioral tasks. While recent studies in mice have quantified appetitive and aversive conditioned responses simultaneously (Jikomes et al., 2016; Heinz et al., 2017), these tasks required different behavioral responses to each stimulus. As many brain regions involved in survival behavior process stimuli of opposite valence, we developed a paradigm in which mice perform the same response (nose poke) to distinct auditory cues to obtain a rewarding outcome (palatable food) or avoid an aversive outcome (mild footshoock). This design allows for both within-subject and between-subject comparisons as animals respond to appetitive and aversive cues. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is implicated in the regulation of responses to stimuli of either valence. Considering its role in threat processing (Wilensky et al., 2006; Haubensak et al., 2010) and regulation of incentive salience (Warlow and Berridge, 2021), it is important to examine the contribution of the CeA to mechanisms potentially underlying comorbid dysregulation of avoidance and reward (Sinha, 2008; Bolton et al., 2009). Using this paradigm, we tested the role of two molecularly defined CeA subtypes previously linked to consummatory and defensive behaviors. Significant strain differences in the acquisition and performance of the task were observed. Bidirectional chemogenetic manipulation of CeA somatostatin (SOM) neurons altered motivation for reward and perseveration of reward-seeking responses on avoidance trials. Manipulation of corticotropin-releasing factor neurons (CRF) had no significant effect on food reward consumption, motivation, or task performance. This paradigm will facilitate investigations into the neuronal mechanisms controlling motivated behavior across valences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Dorofeikova
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Claire E Stelly
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Anh Duong
- Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | | | - Erin Bean
- Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | | | - Natalia Sifnugel
- Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Alexis Resendez
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - David M Corey
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Jeffrey G Tasker
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Jonathan P Fadok
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
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14
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Devoght J, Comhair J, Morelli G, Rigo JM, D'Hooge R, Touma C, Palme R, Dewachter I, vandeVen M, Harvey RJ, Schiffmann SN, Piccart E, Brône B. Dopamine-mediated striatal activity and function is enhanced in GlyRα2 knockout animals. iScience 2023; 26:107400. [PMID: 37554441 PMCID: PMC10404725 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The glycine receptor alpha 2 (GlyRα2) is a ligand-gated ion channel which upon activation induces a chloride conductance. Here, we investigated the role of GlyRα2 in dopamine-stimulated striatal cell activity and behavior. We show that depletion of GlyRα2 enhances dopamine-induced increases in the activity of putative dopamine D1 receptor-expressing striatal projection neurons, but does not alter midbrain dopamine neuron activity. We next show that the locomotor response to d-amphetamine is enhanced in GlyRα2 knockout animals, and that this increase correlates with c-fos expression in the dorsal striatum. 3-D modeling revealed an increase in the neuronal ensemble size in the striatum in response to D-amphetamine in GlyRα2 KO mice. Finally, we show enhanced appetitive conditioning in GlyRα2 KO animals that is likely due to increased motivation, but not changes in associative learning or hedonic response. Taken together, we show that GlyRα2 is an important regulator of dopamine-stimulated striatal activity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Devoght
- Department of Neuroscience, UHasselt, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Joris Comhair
- Department of Neuroscience, UHasselt, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Morelli
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chadi Touma
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Osnabrück, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna A-1210, Austria
| | - Ilse Dewachter
- Department of Neuroscience, UHasselt, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Robert J. Harvey
- School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
- Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | - Serge N. Schiffmann
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Université libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Bert Brône
- Department of Neuroscience, UHasselt, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
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15
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Dorofeikova M, Stelly CE, Duong A, Basavanhalli S, Bean E, Weissmuller K, Sifnugel N, Resendez A, Corey DM, Tasker JG, Fadok JP. The role of genetically distinct central amygdala neurons in appetitive and aversive responding assayed with a novel dual valence operant conditioning paradigm. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.07.547979. [PMID: 37461627 PMCID: PMC10350072 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.07.547979] [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: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
To survive, animals must meet their biological needs while simultaneously avoiding danger. However, the neurobiological basis of appetitive and aversive survival behaviors has historically been studied using separate behavioral tasks. While recent studies in mice have quantified appetitive and aversive conditioned responses simultaneously (Heinz et al., 2017; Jikomes et al., 2016), these tasks required different behavioral responses to each stimulus. As many brain regions involved in survival behavior process stimuli of opposite valence, we developed a paradigm in which mice perform the same response (nosepoke) to distinct auditory cues to obtain a rewarding outcome (palatable food) or avoid an aversive outcome (mild footshoock). This design allows for both within- and between-subject comparisons as animals respond to appetitive and aversive cues. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is implicated in the regulation of responses to stimuli of either valence. Considering its role in threat processing (Haubensak et al., 2010; Wilensky et al., 2006) and regulation of incentive salience (Warlow and Berridge, 2021), it is important to examine the contribution of the CeA to mechanisms potentially underlying comorbid dysregulation of avoidance and reward (Bolton et al., 2009; Sinha, 2008). Using this paradigm, we tested the role of two molecularly defined CeA subtypes previously linked to consummatory and defensive behaviors. Significant strain differences in the acquisition and performance of the task were observed. Bidirectional chemogenetic manipulation of CeA somatostatin (SOM) neurons altered motivation for reward and perseveration of reward-seeking responses on avoidance trials. Manipulation of corticotropin-releasing factor neurons (CRF) had no significant effect on food reward consumption, motivation, or task performance. This paradigm will facilitate investigations into the neuronal mechanisms controlling motivated behavior across valences. Significance Statement It is unclear how different neuronal populations contribute to reward- and aversion-driven behaviors within a subject. To address this question, we developed a novel behavioral paradigm in which mice obtain food and avoid footshocks via the same operant response. We then use this paradigm to test how the central amygdala coordinates appetitive and aversive behavioral responses. By testing somatostatin-IRES-Cre and CRF-IRES-Cre transgenic lines, we found significant differences between strains on task acquisition and performance. Using chemogenetics, we demonstrate that CeA SOM+ neurons regulate motivation for reward, while manipulation of CeA CRF+ neurons had no effect on task performance. Future studies investigating the interaction between positive and negative motivation circuits should benefit from the use of this dual valence paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Dorofeikova
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Claire E. Stelly
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Anh Duong
- Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | | | - Erin Bean
- Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | | | - Natalia Sifnugel
- Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Alexis Resendez
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - David M. Corey
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Jeffrey G. Tasker
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Fadok
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
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16
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Winters ND, Yasmin F, Kondev V, Grueter BA, Patel S. Cannabidiol Differentially Modulates Synaptic Release and Cellular Excitability in Amygdala Subnuclei. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37163725 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive constituent of the Cannabis plant that has purported effectiveness in treating an array of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. The amygdala is a subcortical brain structure that regulates emotional behavior, and its dysfunction has been linked to numerous disorders including anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. Despite this, the direct effects of CBD on synaptic and cellular function in the amygdala are not known. Using electrophysiology and pharmacology, we report that CBD reduces presynaptic neurotransmitter release in the amygdala, and these effects are dependent on subnucleus and cell type. Furthermore, CBD broadly decreases cellular excitability across amygdala subnuclei. These data reveal physiological mechanisms by which CBD modulates amygdala activity and could provide insights into how CBD could affect emotional and stress-related behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Winters
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Farhana Yasmin
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Veronika Kondev
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Brad A Grueter
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Sachin Patel
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
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17
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Setlow B, Bizon JL. Introduction to special issue on amygdala and value-based decision making. Behav Brain Res 2023; 437:114147. [PMID: 36209945 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barry Setlow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
| | - Jennifer L Bizon
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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18
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Ballotta D, Maramotti R, Borelli E, Lui F, Pagnoni G. Neural correlates of emotional valence for faces and words. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1055054. [PMID: 36910761 PMCID: PMC9996044 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1055054] [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: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Stimuli with negative emotional valence are especially apt to influence perception and action because of their crucial role in survival, a property that may not be precisely mirrored by positive emotional stimuli of equal intensity. The aim of this study was to identify the neural circuits differentially coding for positive and negative valence in the implicit processing of facial expressions and words, which are among the main ways human beings use to express emotions. Thirty-six healthy subjects took part in an event-related fMRI experiment. We used an implicit emotional processing task with the visual presentation of negative, positive, and neutral faces and words, as primary stimuli. Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM) of the fMRI data was used to test effective brain connectivity within two different anatomo-functional models, for the processing of words and faces, respectively. In our models, the only areas showing a significant differential response to negative and positive valence across both face and word stimuli were early visual cortices, with faces eliciting stronger activations. For faces, DCM revealed that this effect was mediated by a facilitation of activity in the amygdala by positive faces and in the fusiform face area by negative faces; for words, the effect was mainly imputable to a facilitation of activity in the primary visual cortex by positive words. These findings support a role of early sensory cortices in discriminating the emotional valence of both faces and words, where the effect may be mediated chiefly by the subcortical/limbic visual route for faces, and rely more on the direct thalamic pathway to primary visual cortex for words.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ballotta
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Riccardo Maramotti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Eleonora Borelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical, Maternal-Infantile and Adult Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fausta Lui
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pagnoni
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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19
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Yu YH, Tsai AC, Ou CY, Cheng CN, Chang FC, Shyu BC, Huang ACW. Optogenetic stimulation in the medial prefrontal cortex modulates stimulus valence from rewarding and aversive to neutral states. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1119803. [PMID: 37113545 PMCID: PMC10126430 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1119803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Understanding the modulations of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the valence of the stimulus from rewarding and aversive status to neutral status is crucial for the development of novel treatments for drug addiction. This study addressed this issue and examined whether optogenetic ChR2 photostimulation in the cingulate, prelimbic, and infralimbic cortices of the mPFC regulated the valence of saccharin solution consumption from the rewarding property, the aversive property induced by morphine's conditioning, and the neutral states via saccharin extinction processes after morphine's conditioning. Methods All rats received virus infection, buried optical fiber, optical stimulation, water deprivation, and saccharin solution consumption phases. In Experiment 1, rats were given ChR2 virus infection into the cingulate cortex (Cg1), prelimbic cortex (PrL), and infralimbic cortex (IL) to influence the rewarding saccharin solution consumption under photostimulation. In Experiment 2, rats were given ChR2 or EYFP virus infection into the Cg1, PrL, and IL to alter the saccharin solution consumption in the morphine-induced aversively conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and the saccharin solution consumption in the neutral state following the extinction process under photostimulation. Later, the immunohistochemical staining with c-Fos protein was performed for the Cg1, IL, PrL, nucleus accumbens core, nucleus accumbens shell, central amygdala, basolateral amygdala, ventral tegmental area, and dentate gyrus. Results The results showed that optogenetic PrL stimulation decreased the rewarding valence of saccharin solution consumption and increased the morphine-induced, aversive valence of saccharin solution consumption. PrL stimulation decreased the neutral valence of saccharin solution consumption via the extinction process. Cg1 optogenetic stimulation increased the rewarding valence of saccharin solution consumption and the aversive valence of saccharin solution consumption induced by morphine in conditioning. Optogenetic IL stimulation increased the aversive valence of saccharin solution consumption induced by morphine via conditioning. Conclusion Altogether, optogenetic stimulation in the subareas of the mPFC modulated the reward, aversion, and neutral valences of the stimulus and altered neuronal activity in the mPFC, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus. Notably, the change of valence was temporary alternation during light-on related to the light-off periods. However, the findings may provide insights in the development of novel treatments for addictive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hao Yu
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Animal Science, National Ilan University, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Arthur C. Tsai
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen Yin Ou
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Cai-N Cheng
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Fang Chih Chang
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Bai Chuang Shyu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Bai Chuang Shyu, , orcid.org/0000-0001-5619-2281
| | - Andrew Chih Wei Huang
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Andrew Chih Wei Huang, , orcid.org/0000-0001-9794-7302
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20
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Zafiri D, Duvarci S. Dopaminergic circuits underlying associative aversive learning. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1041929. [PMID: 36439963 PMCID: PMC9685162 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1041929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Associative aversive learning enables animals to predict and avoid threats and thus is critical for survival and adaptive behavior. Anxiety disorders are characterized with deficits in normal aversive learning mechanisms and hence understanding the neural circuits underlying aversive learning and memory has high clinical relevance. Recent studies have revealed the dopamine system as one of the key modulators of aversive learning. In this review, we highlight recent advances that provide insights into how distinct dopaminergic circuits contribute to aversive learning and memory.
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21
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Limoges A, Yarur HE, Tejeda HA. Dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor system regulation on amygdaloid circuitry: Implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:963691. [PMID: 36276608 PMCID: PMC9579273 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.963691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amygdaloid circuits are involved in a variety of emotional and motivation-related behaviors and are impacted by stress. The amygdala expresses several neuromodulatory systems, including opioid peptides and their receptors. The Dynorphin (Dyn)/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system has been implicated in the processing of emotional and stress-related information and is expressed in brain areas involved in stress and motivation. Dysregulation of the Dyn/KOR system has also been implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, there is limited information about the role of the Dyn/KOR system in regulating amygdala circuitry. Here, we review the literature on the (1) basic anatomy of the amygdala, (2) functional regulation of synaptic transmission by the Dyn/KOR system, (3) anatomical architecture and function of the Dyn/KOR system in the amygdala, (4) regulation of amygdala-dependent behaviors by the Dyn/KOR system, and (5) future directions for the field. Future work investigating how the Dyn/KOR system shapes a wide range of amygdala-related behaviors will be required to increase our understanding of underlying circuitry modulation by the Dyn/KOR system. We anticipate that continued focus on the amygdala Dyn/KOR system will also elucidate novel ways to target the Dyn/KOR system to treat neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Limoges
- Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration, Bethesda, MD, United States
- NIH-Columbia University Individual Graduate Partnership Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hector E. Yarur
- Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Hugo A. Tejeda
- Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Hugo A. Tejeda,
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22
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Dilly GA, Kittleman CW, Kerr TM, Messing RO, Mayfield RD. Cell-type specific changes in PKC-delta neurons of the central amygdala during alcohol withdrawal. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:289. [PMID: 35859068 PMCID: PMC9300707 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02063-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The central amygdala (CeA) contains a diverse population of cells, including multiple subtypes of GABAergic neurons, along with glia and epithelial cells. Specific CeA cell types have been shown to affect alcohol consumption in animal models of dependence and may be involved in negative affect during alcohol withdrawal. We used single-nuclei RNA sequencing to determine cell-type specificity of differential gene expression in the CeA induced by alcohol withdrawal. Cells within the CeA were classified using unbiased clustering analyses and identified based on the expression of known marker genes. Differential gene expression analysis was performed on each identified CeA cell-type. It revealed differential gene expression in astrocytes and GABAergic neurons associated with alcohol withdrawal. GABAergic neurons were further subclassified into 13 clusters of cells. Analyzing transcriptomic responses in these subclusters revealed that alcohol exposure induced multiple differentially expressed genes in one subtype of CeA GABAergic neurons, the protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) expressing neurons. These results suggest that PKCδ neurons in the CeA may be uniquely sensitive to the effects of alcohol exposure and identify a novel population of cells in CeA associated with alcohol withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey A. Dilly
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neurology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Cory W. Kittleman
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Tony M. Kerr
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neurology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Robert O. Messing
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neurology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - R. Dayne Mayfield
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
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Ritchie JL, Walters JL, Galliou JMC, Christian RJ, Qi S, Savenkova MI, Ibarra CK, Grogan SR, Fuchs RA. Basolateral amygdala corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 regulates context-cocaine memory strength during reconsolidation in a sex-dependent manner. Neuropharmacology 2021; 200:108819. [PMID: 34610289 PMCID: PMC8550898 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108819] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a critical brain region for cocaine-memory reconsolidation. Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRFR1) is densely expressed in the BLA, and CRFR1 stimulation can activate intra-cellular signaling cascades that mediate memory reconsolidation. Hence, we tested the hypothesis that BLA CRFR1 stimulation is necessary and sufficient for cocaine-memory reconsolidation. Using an instrumental model of drug relapse, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats received cocaine self-administration training in a distinct environmental context over 10 days followed by extinction training in a different context over 7 days. Next, rats were re-exposed to the cocaine-paired context for 15 min to initiate cocaine-memory retrieval and destabilization. Immediately or 6 h after this session, the rats received bilateral vehicle, antalarmin (CRFR1 antagonist; 500 ng/hemisphere), or corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF; 0.2, 30 or 500 ng/hemisphere) infusions into the BLA. Resulting changes in drug context-induced cocaine seeking (index of context-cocaine memory strength) were assessed three days later. Female rats self-administered more cocaine infusions and exhibited more extinction responding than males. Intra-BLA antalarmin treatment immediately after memory retrieval (i.e., when cocaine memories were labile), but not 6 h later (i.e., after memory reconsolidation), attenuated drug context-induced cocaine seeking at test independent of sex, relative to vehicle. Conversely, intra-BLA CRF treatment increased this behavior selectively in females, in a U-shaped dose-dependent fashion. In control experiments, a high (behaviorally ineffective) dose of CRF treatment did not reduce BLA CRFR1 cell-surface expression in females. Thus, BLA CRFR1 signaling is necessary and sufficient, in a sex-dependent manner, for regulating cocaine-memory strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jobe L Ritchie
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Walters
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Justine M C Galliou
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Robert J Christian
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Shuyi Qi
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Marina I Savenkova
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Christopher K Ibarra
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Shayna R Grogan
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Rita A Fuchs
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman, WA, USA; Washington State University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program, Pullman, WA, USA.
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24
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Zugman A, Winkler AM, Pine DS. Recent advances in understanding neural correlates of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2021; 34:617-623. [PMID: 34475352 PMCID: PMC8490291 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Anxiety disorders are some of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in children and adolescents, but attempts to improve outcome prediction and treatment have stalled. This review highlights recent findings on neural indices related to fear and anxiety that provide novel directions for attempts to create such improvements. RECENT FINDINGS Stimuli capable of provoking fear engage many brain regions, including the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Studies in rodents suggest that sustained, low-level threats are particularly likely to engage the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, which appears to malfunction in anxiety disorders. However, anxiety disorders, like most mental illnesses, appear less likely to arise from alterations in isolated brain regions than in distributed brain circuitry. Findings from large-scale studies of brain connectivity may reveal signs of such broadly distributed dysfunction, though available studies report small effect sizes. Finally, we review novel approaches with promise for using such large-scale data to detect clinically relevant, broadly distributed circuitry dysfunction. SUMMARY Recent work maps neural circuitry related to fear and anxiety. This circuitry may malfunction in anxiety disorders. Integrating findings from animal studies, big datasets, and novel analytical approaches may generate clinically relevant insights based on this recent work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Zugman
- Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, Emotion and Development Branch. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, MD
| | - Anderson M. Winkler
- Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, Emotion and Development Branch. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, MD
| | - Daniel S. Pine
- Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, Emotion and Development Branch. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, MD
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