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Leonard BT, Kark SM, Granger SJ, Adams JG, McMillan L, Yassa MA. Anhedonia is associated with higher functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and paraventricular nucleus of thalamus. J Affect Disord 2024; 366:1-7. [PMID: 39197547 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.113] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anhedonia stands as a life-threatening transdiagnostic feature of many mental illnesses, most notably major depression and involves neural circuits for processing reward information. The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is associated with reward-seeking behavior, however, links between the PVT circuit and anhedonia have not been investigated in humans. METHODS In a sample of adults with and without psychiatric symptoms (n = 75, 18-41 years, 55 female), we generated an anhedonia factor score for each participant using a latent factor analysis, utilizing data from depression and anxiety assessments. Functional connectivity between the PVT and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) was calculated from high-resolution (1.5 mm) resting state fMRI. RESULTS Anhedonia factor scores showed a positive relationship with functional connectivity between the PVT and the NAc, principally in males and in those with psychiatric symptoms. In males, connectivity between other midline thalamic nuclei and the NAc did not show these relationships, suggesting that this link may be specific to PVT. LIMITATIONS This cohort was originally recruited to study depression and not anhedonia per se. The distribution of male and female participants in our cohort was not equal. Partial acquisition in high-resolution fMRI scans restricted regions of interest outside of the thalamus and reward networks. CONCLUSIONS We report evidence that anhedonia is associated with enhanced functional connectivity between the PVT and the NAc, regions that are relevant to reward processing. These results offer clues as to the potential prevention and prevention and treatment of anhedonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca T Leonard
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Sarah M Kark
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Steven J Granger
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joren G Adams
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; VA HSR&D Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Liv McMillan
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Michael A Yassa
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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2
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Kanterman A, Scheele D, Nevat M, Saporta N, Lieberz J, Hurlemann R, Shamay-Tsoory S. Let me in: The neural correlates of inclusion motivation in loneliness. J Affect Disord 2024; 361:399-408. [PMID: 38897307 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.049] [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: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While it is well-established that humans possess an innate need for social belonging, the neural mechanisms underlying motivation for connection are still largely unknown. We propose that inclusion motivation - measured through the effort that individuals are willing to invest to be included in social interactions - may serve as one of the basic building blocks of social behavior and may change in lonely individuals. METHODS Following the screening of 303 participants, we scanned 30 low- and 28 high-loneliness individuals with functional magnetic resonance imaging while they performed the Active Inclusion Task (AIT). The AIT assesses the participants' levels of effort invested in influencing their inclusion during classic Cyberball conditions of fair play and exclusion. RESULTS High- compared to low-loneliness individuals showed higher urgency for inclusion, specifically during fair play, which correlated with higher activity in the right thalamus. Furthermore, in high-loneliness individuals, we found increased functional connectivity between the thalamus and the temporoparietal junction, putamen, and insula. LIMITATIONS Participants interacted with computerized avatars, reducing ecological validity. Additionally, although increasing inclusion in the task required action, the physical demand was not high. Additional limitations are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion motivation in loneliness is heightened during fair but not exclusionary interactions, and is linked to activity in brain regions implicated in appetitive behavior and social cognition. The findings indicate that lonely individuals may view threat in inclusionary interactions, prompting them to take action to regain connection. This suggests that inclusion motivation may help explain social difficulties in loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kanterman
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
| | - D Scheele
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - M Nevat
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - N Saporta
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - J Lieberz
- Section of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - R Hurlemann
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstrasse 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany; Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, Melander Heerstrasse 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - S Shamay-Tsoory
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
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Broomer MC, Beacher NJ, Wang MW, Lin DT. Examining a punishment-related brain circuit with miniature fluorescence microscopes and deep learning. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 11:100154. [PMID: 38680653 PMCID: PMC11044849 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2024.100154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
In humans experiencing substance use disorder (SUD), abstinence from drug use is often motivated by a desire to avoid some undesirable consequence of further use: health effects, legal ramifications, etc. This process can be experimentally modeled in rodents by training and subsequently punishing an operant response in a context-induced reinstatement procedure. Understanding the biobehavioral mechanisms underlying punishment learning is critical to understanding both abstinence and relapse in individuals with SUD. To date, most investigations into the neural mechanisms of context-induced reinstatement following punishment have utilized discrete loss-of-function manipulations that do not capture ongoing changes in neural circuitry related to punishment-induced behavior change. Here, we describe a two-pronged approach to analyzing the biobehavioral mechanisms of punishment learning using miniature fluorescence microscopes and deep learning algorithms. We review recent advancements in both techniques and consider a target neural circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C. Broomer
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Beacher
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Michael W. Wang
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Da-Ting Lin
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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4
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Kooiker CL, Birnie MT, Floriou-Servou A, Ding Q, Thiagarajan N, Hardy M, Baram TZ. Paraventricular Thalamus Neuronal Ensembles Encode Early-life Adversity and Mediate the Consequent Sex-dependent Disruptions of Adult Reward Behaviors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.28.591547. [PMID: 38746198 PMCID: PMC11092514 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.28.591547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Early-life adversity increases risk for mental illnesses including depression and substance use disorders, disorders characterized by dysregulated reward behaviors. However, the mechanisms by which transient ELA enduringly impacts reward circuitries are not well understood. In mice, ELA leads to anhedonia-like behaviors in males and augmented motivation for palatable food and sex-reward cues in females. Here, the use of genetic tagging demonstrated robust, preferential, and sex-specific activation of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) during ELA and a potentiated reactivation of these PVT neurons during a reward task in adult ELA mice. Chemogenetic manipulation of specific ensembles of PVT neurons engaged during ELA identified a role for the posterior PVT in ELA-induced aberrantly augmented reward behaviors in females. In contrast, anterior PVT neurons activated during ELA were required for the anhedonia-like behaviors in males. Thus, the PVT encodes adverse experiences early-in life, prior to the emergence of the hippocampal memory system, and contributes critically to the lasting, sex-modulated impacts of ELA on reward behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L. Kooiker
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Matthew T. Birnie
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Amalia Floriou-Servou
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Qinxin Ding
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Neeraj Thiagarajan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mason Hardy
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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Calvin OL, Erickson MT, Walters CJ, Redish AD. Dorsal hippocampus represents locations to avoid as well as locations to approach during approach-avoidance conflict. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.10.584295. [PMID: 38559154 PMCID: PMC10979882 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.10.584295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Worrying about perceived threats is a hallmark of multiple psychological disorders including anxiety. This concern about future events is particularly important when an individual is faced with an approach-avoidance conflict. Potential goals to approach are known to be represented in the dorsal hippocampus during theta sweeps. Similarly, important non-local information is represented during hippocampal high synchrony events (HSEs), which are correlated with sharp-wave ripples (SWRs). It is likely that potential future threats may be similarly represented. We examined how threats and rewards were represented within the hippocampus during approach-avoidance conflicts in rats faced with a predator-like robot guarding a food reward. We found representations of the pseudo-predator during HSEs when hesitating in the nest, and during theta prior to retreating as the rats approached the pseudo-predator. After the first attack, we observed new place fields appearing at the location of the robot (not the location the rat was when attacked). The anxiolytic diazepam reduced anxiety-like behavior and altered hippocampal local field potentials, including reducing SWRs, suggesting that one potential mechanism of diazepam's actions may be through altered representations of imagined threat. These results suggest that hippocampal representation of potential threats could be an important mechanism that underlies worry and a potential target for anxiolytics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia L. Calvin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
| | | | | | - A. David Redish
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
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6
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Cho D, O'Berry K, Possa-Paranhos IC, Butts J, Palanikumar N, Sweeney P. Paraventricular Thalamic MC3R Circuits Link Energy Homeostasis with Anxiety-Related Behavior. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6280-6296. [PMID: 37591737 PMCID: PMC10490510 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0704-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic melanocortin system is critically involved in sensing stored energy and communicating this information throughout the brain, including to brain regions controlling motivation and emotion. This system consists of first-order agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and downstream neurons containing the melanocortin-3 (MC3R) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). Although extensive work has characterized the function of downstream MC4R neurons, the identity and function of MC3R-containing neurons are poorly understood. Here, we used neuroanatomical and circuit manipulation approaches in mice to identify a novel pathway linking hypothalamic melanocortin neurons to melanocortin-3 receptor neurons located in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) in male and female mice. MC3R neurons in PVT are innervated by hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons and are activated by anorexigenic and aversive stimuli. Consistently, chemogenetic activation of PVT MC3R neurons increases anxiety-related behavior and reduces feeding in hungry mice, whereas inhibition of PVT MC3R neurons reduces anxiety-related behavior. These studies position PVT MC3R neurons as important cellular substrates linking energy status with neural circuitry regulating anxiety-related behavior and represent a promising potential target for diseases at the intersection of metabolism and anxiety-related behavior such as anorexia nervosa.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Animals must constantly adapt their behavior to changing internal and external challenges, and impairments in appropriately responding to these challenges are a hallmark of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we demonstrate that paraventricular thalamic neurons containing the melanocortin-3 receptor respond to energy-state-related information and external challenges to regulate anxiety-related behavior in mice. Thus, these neurons represent a potential target for understanding the neurobiology of disorders at the intersection of metabolism and psychiatry such as anorexia nervosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dajin Cho
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Kyle O'Berry
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Ingrid Camila Possa-Paranhos
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Jared Butts
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Naraen Palanikumar
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Patrick Sweeney
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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7
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Engeli EJE, Russo AG, Ponticorvo S, Zoelch N, Hock A, Hulka LM, Kirschner M, Preller KH, Seifritz E, Quednow BB, Esposito F, Herdener M. Accumbal-thalamic connectivity and associated glutamate alterations in human cocaine craving: A state-dependent rs-fMRI and 1H-MRS study. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 39:103490. [PMID: 37639901 PMCID: PMC10474092 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103490] [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: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Craving is a core symptom of cocaine use disorder and a major factor for relapse risk. To date, there is no pharmacological therapy to treat this disease or at least to alleviate cocaine craving as a core symptom. In animal models, impaired prefrontal-striatal signalling leading to altered glutamate release in the nucleus accumbens appear to be the prerequisite for cocaine-seeking. Thus, those network and metabolic changes may constitute the underlying mechanisms for cocaine craving and provide a potential treatment target. In humans, there is recent evidence for corresponding glutamatergic alterations in the nucleus accumbens, however, the underlying network disturbances that lead to this glutamate imbalance remain unknown. In this state-dependent randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, cross-over multimodal study, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging in combination with small-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (voxel size: 9.4 × 18.8 × 8.4 mm3) was applied to assess network-level and associated neurometabolic changes during a non-craving and a craving state, induced by a custom-made cocaine-cue film, in 18 individuals with cocaine use disorder and 23 healthy individuals. Additionally, we assessed the potential impact of a short-term challenge of N-acetylcysteine, known to normalize disturbed glutamate homeostasis and to thereby reduce cocaine-seeking in animal models of addiction, compared to a placebo. We found increased functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during the cue-induced craving state. However, those changes were not linked to alterations in accumbal glutamate levels. Whereas we additionally found increased functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and a midline part of the thalamus during the cue-induced craving state. Furthermore, obsessive thinking about cocaine and the actual intensity of cocaine use were predictive of cue-induced functional connectivity changes between the nucleus accumbens and the thalamus. Finally, the increase in accumbal-thalamic connectivity was also coupled with craving-related glutamate rise in the nucleus accumbens. Yet, N-acetylcysteine had no impact on craving-related changes in functional connectivity. Together, these results suggest that connectivity changes within the fronto-accumbal-thalamic loop, in conjunction with impaired glutamatergic transmission, underlie cocaine craving and related clinical symptoms, pinpointing the thalamus as a crucial hub for cocaine craving in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etna J E Engeli
- Centre for Addictive Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Andrea G Russo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Ponticorvo
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, United States
| | - Niklaus Zoelch
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hock
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lea M Hulka
- Centre for Addictive Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Kirschner
- Transdiagnostic and Multimodal Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katrin H Preller
- Pharmaco-Neuroimaging and Cognitive-Emotional Processing, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Boris B Quednow
- Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio Esposito
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Marcus Herdener
- Centre for Addictive Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Letkiewicz AM, Kottler HC, Shankman SA, Cochran AL. Quantifying aberrant approach-avoidance conflict in psychopathology: A review of computational approaches. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105103. [PMID: 36804398 PMCID: PMC10023482 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Making effective decisions during approach-avoidance conflict is critical in daily life. Aberrant decision-making during approach-avoidance conflict is evident in a range of psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders, substance use disorders, and alcohol use disorders. To help clarify etiological pathways and reveal novel intervention targets, clinical research into decision-making is increasingly adopting a computational psychopathology approach. This approach uses mathematical models that can identify specific decision-making related processes that are altered in mental health disorders. In our review, we highlight foundational approach-avoidance conflict research, followed by more in-depth discussion of computational approaches that have been used to model behavior in these tasks. Specifically, we describe the computational models that have been applied to approach-avoidance conflict (e.g., drift-diffusion, active inference, and reinforcement learning models), and provide resources to guide clinical researchers who may be interested in applying computational modeling. Finally, we identify notable gaps in the current literature and potential future directions for computational approaches aimed at identifying mechanisms of approach-avoidance conflict in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Letkiewicz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Haley C Kottler
- Department of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Stewart A Shankman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Amy L Cochran
- Department of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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9
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Gao C, Gohel CA, Leng Y, Ma J, Goldman D, Levine AJ, Penzo MA. Molecular and spatial profiling of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. eLife 2023; 12:81818. [PMID: 36867023 PMCID: PMC10014079 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is known to regulate various cognitive and behavioral processes. However, while functional diversity among PVT circuits has often been linked to cellular differences, the molecular identity and spatial distribution of PVT cell types remain unclear. To address this gap, here we used single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and identified five molecularly distinct PVT neuronal subtypes in the mouse brain. Additionally, multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization of top marker genes revealed that PVT subtypes are organized by a combination of previously unidentified molecular gradients. Lastly, comparing our dataset with a recently published single-cell sequencing atlas of the thalamus yielded novel insight into the PVT's connectivity with the cortex, including unexpected innervation of auditory and visual areas. This comparison also revealed that our data contains a largely non-overlapping transcriptomic map of multiple midline thalamic nuclei. Collectively, our findings uncover previously unknown features of the molecular diversity and anatomical organization of the PVT and provide a valuable resource for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Gao
- National Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown UniversityProvidenceUnited States
| | - Chiraag A Gohel
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismRockvilleUnited States
| | - Yan Leng
- National Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Jun Ma
- National Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - David Goldman
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismRockvilleUnited States
| | - Ariel J Levine
- National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentBethesdaUnited States
| | - Mario A Penzo
- National Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaUnited States
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10
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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: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 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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11
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Giacomini JL, Sadeghian K, Baldo BA. Eating driven by the gustatory insula: contrasting regulation by infralimbic vs. prelimbic cortices. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1358-1366. [PMID: 35091673 PMCID: PMC9117285 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01276-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Subregions within insular cortex and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) have been implicated in eating disorders; however, the way these brain regions interact to produce dysfunctional eating is poorly understood. The present study explored how two mPFC subregions, the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PRL) cortices, regulate sucrose hyperphagia elicited specifically by a neurochemical manipulation of the agranular/dysgranular region of gustatory insula (AI/DI). Using intra-AI/DI infusion of the mu-opioid receptor (µ-OR) agonist, DAMGO (1 µg), sucrose hyperphagia was generated in ad-libitum-maintained rats, while in the same rat, either the IL or prelimbic (PRL) subregion of mPFC was inactivated bilaterally with muscimol (30 ng). Intra-IL muscimol markedly potentiated AI/DI DAMGO-induced sucrose hyperphagia by increasing eating bout duration and food consumption per bout. In contrast, PRL attenuated intra-AI/DI DAMGO-driven sucrose intake and feeding duration and eliminated the small DAMGO-induced increase in feeding bout initiation. Intra-IL or -PRL muscimol alone (i.e., without intra-AI/DI DAMGO) did not alter feeding behavior, but slightly reduced exploratory-like rearing in both mPFC subregions. These results reveal anatomical heterogeneity in mPFC regulation of the intense feeding-motivational state engendered by µ-OR signaling in the gustatory insula: IL significantly curtails consummatory activity, while PRL modestly contributes to feeding initiation. Results are discussed with regard to potential circuit-based mechanisms that may underlie the observed results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana L. Giacomini
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Ken Sadeghian
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Brian A. Baldo
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA ,grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
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12
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Redish AD, Kepecs A, Anderson LM, Calvin OL, Grissom NM, Haynos AF, Heilbronner SR, Herman AB, Jacob S, Ma S, Vilares I, Vinogradov S, Walters CJ, Widge AS, Zick JL, Zilverstand A. Computational validity: using computation to translate behaviours across species. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200525. [PMID: 34957854 PMCID: PMC8710889 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose a new conceptual framework (computational validity) for translation across species and populations based on the computational similarity between the information processing underlying parallel tasks. Translating between species depends not on the superficial similarity of the tasks presented, but rather on the computational similarity of the strategies and mechanisms that underlie those behaviours. Computational validity goes beyond construct validity by directly addressing questions of information processing. Computational validity interacts with circuit validity as computation depends on circuits, but similar computations could be accomplished by different circuits. Because different individuals may use different computations to accomplish a given task, computational validity suggests that behaviour should be understood through the subject's point of view; thus, behaviour should be characterized on an individual level rather than a task level. Tasks can constrain the computational algorithms available to a subject and the observed subtleties of that behaviour can provide information about the computations used by each individual. Computational validity has especially high relevance for the study of psychiatric disorders, given the new views of psychiatry as identifying and mediating information processing dysfunctions that may show high inter-individual variability, as well as for animal models investigating aspects of human psychiatric disorders. This article is part of the theme issue 'Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory'.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. David Redish
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Adam Kepecs
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lisa M. Anderson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Olivia L. Calvin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Nicola M. Grissom
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ann F. Haynos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Alexander B. Herman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Suma Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sisi Ma
- Department of Medicine - Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Iris Vilares
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sophia Vinogradov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Cody J. Walters
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alik S. Widge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Zick
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Anna Zilverstand
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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13
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McDonald AJ, Alonso-Lozares I, Rauh V, van Mourik Y, Schetters D, De Vries TJ, Marchant NJ. Alcohol Seeking Under Risk of Punishment Is Associated With Activation of Cortical and Subcortical Brain Regions. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:739681. [PMID: 34744653 PMCID: PMC8567024 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.739681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, stimuli associated with alcohol availability can provoke relapse during abstinence. In this study, we investigated the role of discriminative stimuli (DS) in the control of alcohol seeking in two types of behavioral tests. The first test examined the ability of an alcohol-associated DS to promote alcohol seeking (relapse) after punishment-imposed abstinence in the presence of a different DS. Following this, we tested whether the differentially associated DS can promote and suppress alcohol self-administration in a within-session discrimination task. During the within-session discrimination task, we also tested the rate of alcohol self-administration when two DS are presented in a compound. We first trained Long-Evans male rats (n = 24) to self-administer alcohol in the presence of one DS (reward-associated discriminative stimulus, rewDS) and then punished that behavior in the presence of a different DS (punishment-associated discriminative stimulus, punDS). On the test, we found that rats tested with the rewDS showed higher alcohol seeking than rats tested with the punDS. This result shows that a single Cue DS can promote alcohol seeking in a manner comparable to contexts. Subsequently, we trained 16 of these rats in a within-session trial-based discrimination task, comprised of intervening 2-min trials of rewDS, punDS, or conflict with rewDS and punDS in compound and a reduced probability of punishment. We found that alcohol self-administration is bi-directionally regulated by the rewDS and punDS. In conflict trials, alcohol self-administration was at a rate that was intermediate between the rewDS and punDS trials. In a final test, rats were presented with one of the three trial conditions and perfused for Fos immunohistochemistry. We found Fos expression was higher in the rats tested in the conflict condition in three interconnected sub-cortical brain regions. This study demonstrated the important role that alcohol-associated DS plays an important role in promoting relapse to alcohol seeking after punishment-imposed abstinence. We also implemented a within-session discrimination task that allows for the study of alcohol seeking under motivational conflict, which may be relevant for alcohol use despite negative consequences. The results from the Fos data suggest that higher alcohol seeking in approach-avoidance motivational conflict is associated with activation of sub-cortical regions but not cortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison J McDonald
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Isis Alonso-Lozares
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vasco Rauh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yvar van Mourik
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dustin Schetters
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Taco J De Vries
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nathan J Marchant
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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14
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Lucantonio F, Kim E, Su Z, Chang AJ, Bari BA, Cohen JY. Aversive stimuli bias corticothalamic responses to motivationally significant cues. eLife 2021; 10:57634. [PMID: 34738905 PMCID: PMC8570692 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Making predictions about future rewards or punishments is fundamental to adaptive behavior. These processes are influenced by prior experience. For example, prior exposure to aversive stimuli or stressors changes behavioral responses to negative- and positive-value predictive cues. Here, we demonstrate a role for medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT; mPFC→PVT) in this process. We found that a history of aversive stimuli negatively biased behavioral responses to motivationally relevant cues in mice and that this negative bias was associated with hyperactivity in mPFC→PVT neurons during exposure to those cues. Furthermore, artificially mimicking this hyperactive response with selective optogenetic excitation of the same pathway recapitulated the negative behavioral bias induced by aversive stimuli, whereas optogenetic inactivation of mPFC→PVT neurons prevented the development of the negative bias. Together, our results highlight how information flow within the mPFC→PVT circuit is critical for making predictions about motivationally-relevant outcomes as a function of prior experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Lucantonio
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Eunyoung Kim
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Zhixiao Su
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Anna J Chang
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Bilal A Bari
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jeremiah Y Cohen
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
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15
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Giannotti G, Gong S, Fayette N, Heinsbroek JA, Orfila JE, Herson PS, Ford CP, Peters J. Extinction blunts paraventricular thalamic contributions to heroin relapse. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109605. [PMID: 34433067 PMCID: PMC8418780 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we use optogenetics and chemogenetics to investigate the contribution of the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) to nucleus accumbens (NAc) pathway in aversion and heroin relapse in two different heroin self-administration models in rats. In one model, rats undergo forced abstinence in the home cage prior to relapse testing, and in the other, they undergo extinction training, a procedure that is likened to cognitive behavioral therapy. We find that the PVT→NAc pathway is both sufficient and necessary to drive aversion and heroin seeking after abstinence, but not extinction. The ability of extinction to reduce this pathway's contribution to heroin relapse is accompanied by a loss of synaptic plasticity in PVT inputs onto a specific subset of NAc neurons. Thus, extinction may exert therapeutic reductions in opioid seeking by altering synaptic plasticity within the PVT→NAc pathway, resulting in reduced aversion during opioid withdrawal as well as reduced relapse propensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Giannotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Sheng Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Nicholas Fayette
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jasper A Heinsbroek
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - James E Orfila
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Paco S Herson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Christopher P Ford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jamie Peters
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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16
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Ma J, du Hoffmann J, Kindel M, Beas BS, Chudasama Y, Penzo MA. Divergent projections of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus mediate the selection of passive and active defensive behaviors. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1429-1440. [PMID: 34413514 PMCID: PMC8484052 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00912-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The appropriate selection of passive and active defensive behaviors in threatening situations is essential for survival. Previous studies have shown that passive defensive responses depend on activity of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), whereas active ones primarily rely on the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, the mechanisms underlying flexible switching between these two types of responses remain unknown. Here, we show in mice that the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) mediates the selection of defensive behaviors through its interaction with the CeA and the NAc. We show that the PVT–CeA pathway drives conditioned freezing responses, whereas the PVT–NAc pathway is inhibited during freezing and instead signals active avoidance events. Optogenetic manipulations revealed that activity in the PVT–CeA or PVT–NAc pathway biases behavior toward the selection of passive or active defensive responses, respectively. These findings provide evidence that the PVT mediates flexible switching between opposing defensive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ma
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Johann du Hoffmann
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany.,Rodent Behavioral Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Morgan Kindel
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - B Sofia Beas
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yogita Chudasama
- Rodent Behavioral Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Section on Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mario A Penzo
- Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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17
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James MH, McNally GP, Li X. Editorial: Role of the Thalamus in Motivated Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:720592. [PMID: 34276320 PMCID: PMC8282993 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.720592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan H James
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.,Brain Health Institute, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Gavan P McNally
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Xuan Li
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
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18
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Iglesias AG, Flagel SB. The Paraventricular Thalamus as a Critical Node of Motivated Behavior via the Hypothalamic-Thalamic-Striatal Circuit. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:706713. [PMID: 34220458 PMCID: PMC8250420 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.706713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we highlight evidence that supports a role for the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) in motivated behavior. We include a neuroanatomical and neurochemical overview, outlining what is known of the cellular makeup of the region and its most prominent afferent and efferent connections. We discuss how these connections and distinctions across the anterior-posterior axis correspond to the perceived function of the PVT. We then focus on the hypothalamic-thalamic-striatal circuit and the neuroanatomical and functional placement of the PVT within this circuit. In this regard, the PVT is ideally positioned to integrate information regarding internal states and the external environment and translate it into motivated actions. Based on data that has emerged in recent years, including that from our laboratory, we posit that orexinergic (OX) innervation from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the PVT encodes the incentive motivational value of reward cues and thereby alters the signaling of the glutamatergic neurons projecting from the PVT to the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh). The PVT-NAcSh pathway then modulates dopamine activity and resultant cue-motivated behaviors. As we and others apply novel tools and approaches to studying the PVT we will continue to refine the anatomical, cellular, and functional definitions currently ascribed to this nucleus and further elucidate its role in motivated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G. Iglesias
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Shelly B. Flagel
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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19
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Petrovich GD. The Function of Paraventricular Thalamic Circuitry in Adaptive Control of Feeding Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:671096. [PMID: 33986649 PMCID: PMC8110711 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.671096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a complex area that is uniquely embedded across the core feeding, reward, arousal, and stress circuits. The PVT role in the control of feeding behavior is discussed here within a framework of adaptive behavioral guidance based on the body’s energy state and competing drives. The survival of an organism depends on bodily energy resources and promotion of feeding over other behaviors is adaptive except when in danger or sated. The PVT is structurally set up to respond to homeostatic and hedonic needs to feed, and to integrate those signals with physiological and environmental stress, as well as anticipatory needs and other cognitive inputs. It can regulate both food foraging (seeking) and consumption and may balance their expression. The PVT is proposed to accomplish these functions through a network of connections with the brainstem, hypothalamic, striatal, and cortical areas. The connectivity of the PVT further indicates that it could broadcast the information about energy use/gain and behavioral choice to impact cognitive processes—learning, memory, and decision-making—through connections with the medial and lateral prefrontal cortical areas, the hippocampal formation, and the amygdala. The PVT is structurally complex and recent evidence for specific PVT pathways in different aspects of feeding behavior will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorica D Petrovich
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
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