1
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Sepahvand T, Carew SJ, Yuan Q. The ventral hippocampus is activated in olfactory but not auditory threat memory. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1371130. [PMID: 38476709 PMCID: PMC10927826 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1371130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal networks required for associative memory formation are involved in cue- and context-dependent threat conditioning. The hippocampus is functionally heterogeneous at its dorsal and ventral poles, and recent investigations have focused on the specific roles required from each sub-region for associative conditioning. Cumulative evidence suggests that contextual and emotional information is processed by the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, respectively. However, it is not well understood how these two divisions engage in threat conditioning with cues of different sensory modalities. Here, we compare the involvement of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in two types of threat conditioning: olfactory and auditory. Our results suggest that the dorsal hippocampus encodes contextual information and is activated upon recall of an olfactory threat memory only if contextual cues are relevant to the threat. Overnight habituation to the context eliminates dorsal hippocampal activation, implying that this area does not directly support cue-dependent threat conditioning. The ventral hippocampus is activated upon recall of olfactory, but not auditory, threat memory regardless of habituation duration. Concurrent activation of the piriform cortex is consistent with its direct connection with the ventral hippocampus. Together, our study suggests a unique role of the ventral hippocampus in olfactory threat conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qi Yuan
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NF, Canada
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2
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Chen APF, Chen L, Shi KW, Cheng E, Ge S, Xiong Q. Nigrostriatal dopamine modulates the striatal-amygdala pathway in auditory fear conditioning. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7231. [PMID: 37945595 PMCID: PMC10636191 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43066-9] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The auditory striatum, a sensory portion of the dorsal striatum, plays an essential role in learning and memory. In contrast to its roles and underlying mechanisms in operant conditioning, however, little is known about its contribution to classical auditory fear conditioning. Here, we reveal the function of the auditory striatum in auditory-conditioned fear memory. We find that optogenetically inhibiting auditory striatal neurons impairs fear memory formation, which is mediated through the striatal-amygdala pathway. Using calcium imaging in behaving mice, we find that auditory striatal neuronal responses to conditioned tones potentiate across memory acquisition and expression. Furthermore, nigrostriatal dopaminergic projections plays an important role in modulating conditioning-induced striatal potentiation. Together, these findings demonstrate the existence of a nigro-striatal-amygdala circuit for conditioned fear memory formation and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen P F Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Renaissance School of Medicine at SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Kaiyo W Shi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Eileen Cheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Shaoyu Ge
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Qiaojie Xiong
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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3
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Implicit and explicit emotional memory recall in anxiety and depression: Role of basolateral amygdala and cortisol-norepinephrine interaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 136:105598. [PMID: 34894424 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are linked to both explicit and implicit memory biases, which are defined as the tendency to preferentially recall emotionally negative information at conscious and subconscious levels, respectively. Functional connectivity (FC) of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and related stress hormones (i.e., cortisol and norepinephrine) are purportedly implicated in these biases. However, previous findings on memory biases in anxiety and depression have been inconsistent, likely due to their symptomatic complications. Therefore, the underlying neurobiological mechanism remains unclear. We thus investigated whether anxiety and depression as premorbid predispositions are related to the memory biases, and whether FC of BLA, cortisol, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG: a major metabolite of norepinephrine) would affect the anxiety/depression-related biased memory recall in 100 participants without psychiatric symptomatology. Psycho-behavioral assessment, resting-state fMRI scans, and saliva collection at 10-points-in-time across two days were conducted. Correlations of memory biases with anxiety/depression and neurobiological markers were explored. As a result, neither anxiety nor depression were correlated with explicit memory bias to negative (vs. positive) information, although depression was associated with better recall of the negative stimuli only when they were perceived as self-relevant. In contrast, both anxiety and depression were correlated with implicit memory bias; however, the effects were solely explained by anxiety. Furthermore, FC of the BLA with subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) and the synergetic effect of cortisol and MHPG uniquely affected the implicit memory bias. These findings suggest that anxiety facilitates an initial snapshot of negative information and can be accompanied by depression when the information creates negative semantic associations with the self. The BLA-sgACC neural connectivity and cortisol-norepinephrine interaction that are associated with the implicit memory bias might be one of the important neurobiological targets in the prevention and treatment for comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders.
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4
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Hakim M, Beecher K, Jacques A, Chaaya N, Belmer A, Battle AR, Johnson LR, Bartlett SE, Chehrehasa F. Retrieval of olfactory fear memory alters cell proliferation and expression of pCREB and pMAPK in the corticomedial amygdala and piriform cortex. Chem Senses 2022; 47:6673813. [PMID: 35997758 PMCID: PMC9397123 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain forms robust associations between odors and emotionally salient memories, making odors especially effective at triggering fearful or traumatic memories. Using Pavlovian olfactory fear conditioning (OFC), a variant of the traditional tone-shock paradigm, this study explored the changes involved in its processing. We assessed the expression of neuronal plasticity markers phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (pCREB) and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (pMAPK) 24 h and 14 days following OFC, in newborn neurons (EdU+) and in brain regions associated with olfactory memory processing; the olfactory bulb, piriform cortex, amygdale, and hippocampus. Here, we show that all proliferating neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb were colocalized with pCREB at 24 h and 14 days post-conditioning, and the number of proliferating neurons at both time points were statistically similar. This suggests the occurrence of long-term potentiation within the neurons of this pathway. Finally, OFC significantly increased the density of pCREB- and pMAPK-positive immunoreactive neurons in the medial and cortical subnuclei of the amygdala and the posterior piriform cortex, suggesting their key involvement in its processing. Together, our investigation identifies changes in neuroplasticity within critical neural circuits responsible for olfactory fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marziah Hakim
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate Beecher
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela Jacques
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas Chaaya
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew R Battle
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Medicine. Division of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia
| | - Selena E Bartlett
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Chehrehasa
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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5
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Marsland P, Parrella A, Vore AS, Barney TM, Varlinskaya EI, Deak T. Male, but not female, Sprague Dawley rats display enhanced fear learning following acute ethanol withdrawal (hangover). Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 208:173229. [PMID: 34246729 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The present studies investigated the effects of withdrawal from a single binge-like dose of ethanol (hangover) on fear conditioning in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. In Experiment 1, males and females were given 0 or 3.5 g/kg ethanol intraperitoneally (i.p.) and then conditioned to contextual fear 24 h post injection. Withdrawal from acute ethanol enhanced expression of the conditioned freezing response in males, but not in females. Experiment 2 demonstrated that in males, withdrawal from acute ethanol administered 24 h prior to conditioning enhanced contextual fear conditioning, but not auditory-cued fear conditioning. In Experiment 3, male and female rats were given 3.5 g/kg ethanol, and blood ethanol concentrations (BECs) were assessed at various time points for determination of ethanol clearance. Female rats cleared ethanol at a higher rate than males, with 10 h required for females and 14 for males to eliminate ethanol from their systems. Because females cleared ethanol faster than males, in Experiment 4, females were conditioned 18 h after ethanol administration to keep the interval between ethanol clearance and fear conditioning similar to that of males. Withdrawal from acute ethanol given 18 h prior to conditioning did not affect both contextual and auditory-cued fear conditioning in females. In summary, these results highlight sex differences in the impact of withdrawal from acute ethanol (hangover) on fear learning; suggesting that males are more sensitive to hangover-associated enhancement of negative affect than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Marsland
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States
| | - Allissa Parrella
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States
| | - Andrew S Vore
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States
| | - Thaddeus M Barney
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States
| | - Elena I Varlinskaya
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States
| | - Terrence Deak
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, United States.
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6
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Chaaya N, Wang J, Jacques A, Beecher K, Chaaya M, Battle AR, Johnson LR, Chehrehasa F, Belmer A, Bartlett SE. Contextual Fear Memory Maintenance Changes Expression of pMAPK, BDNF and IBA-1 in the Pre-limbic Cortex in a Layer-Specific Manner. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:660199. [PMID: 34295224 PMCID: PMC8291085 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.660199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating and chronic fear-based disorder. Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols have long been utilised to manipulate and study these fear-based disorders. Contextual fear conditioning (CFC) is a particular Pavlovian conditioning procedure that pairs fear with a particular context. Studies on the neural mechanisms underlying the development of contextual fear memories have identified the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), or more specifically, the pre-limbic cortex (PL) of the mPFC as essential for the expression of contextual fear. Despite this, little research has explored the role of the PL in contextual fear memory maintenance or examined the role of neuronal mitogen-activated protein kinase (pMAPK; ERK 1/2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and IBA-1 in microglia in the PL as a function of Pavlovian fear conditioning. The current study was designed to evaluate how the maintenance of two different long-term contextual fear memories leads to changes in the number of immune-positive cells for two well-known markers of neural activity (phosphorylation of MAPK and BDNF) and microglia (IBA-1). Therefore, the current experiment is designed to assess the number of immune-positive pMAPK and BDNF cells, microglial number, and morphology in the PL following CFC. Specifically, 2 weeks following conditioning, pMAPK, BDNF, and microglia number and morphology were evaluated using well-validated antibodies and immunohistochemistry (n = 12 rats per group). A standard CFC protocol applied to rats led to increases in pMAPK, BDNF expression and microglia number as compared to control conditions. Rats in the unpaired fear conditioning (UFC) procedure, despite having equivalent levels of fear to context, did not have any change in pMAPK, BDNF expression and microglia number in the PL compared to the control conditions. These data suggest that alterations in the expression of pMAPK, BDNF, and microglia in the PL can occur for up to 2 weeks following CFC. Together the data suggest that MAPK, BDNF, and microglia within the PL of the mPFC may play a role in contextual fear memory maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chaaya
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Joshua Wang
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela Jacques
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate Beecher
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael Chaaya
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew Raymond Battle
- Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, USU School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fatemeh Chehrehasa
- Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Selena E Bartlett
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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7
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Yegla B, Boles J, Kumar A, Foster TC. Partial microglial depletion is associated with impaired hippocampal synaptic and cognitive function in young and aged rats. Glia 2021; 69:1494-1514. [PMID: 33586813 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The role of microglia in mediating age-related changes in cognition and hippocampal synaptic function was examined by microglial depletion and replenishment using PLX3397. We observed age-related differences in microglial number and morphology, as well as increased Iba-1 expression, indicating microglial activation. PLX3397 treatment decreased microglial number, with aged rats exhibiting the lowest density. Young rats exhibited increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines during depletion and repopulation and maintenance of Iba-1 levels despite reduced microglial number. For aged rats, several cytokines increased with depletion and recovered during repopulation; however, aged rats did not fully recover microglial cell number or Iba-1 expression during repopulation, with a recovery comparable to young control levels rather than aged controls. Hippocampal CA3-CA1 synaptic transmission was impaired with age, and microglial depletion was associated with decreased total synaptic transmission in young and aged rats. A robust decline in N-methyl-d-aspartate-receptor-mediated synaptic transmission arose in young depleted rats specifically. Microglial replenishment normalized depletion-induced synaptic function to control levels; however, recovery of aged animals did not mirror young. Microglial depletion was associated with decreased context-object discrimination memory in both age groups, which recovered with microglial repopulation. Aged rats displayed impaired contextual and cued fear memory, and microglial replenishment did not recover their memory to the level of young. The current study indicates that cognitive function and synaptic transmission benefit from the support of aged microglia and are hindered by removal of these cells. Replenishment of microglia in aging did not ameliorate age-related cognitive impairments or senescent synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney Yegla
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jake Boles
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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8
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Belekhova MG, Kenigfest NB, Chmykhova NM. Evolutionary Formation and Functional
Significance
of the Core–Belt Pattern of Neural Organization of Rostral Auditory
Centers in Vertebrates. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093020040018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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9
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Bergstrom HC. Assaying Fear Memory Discrimination and Generalization: Methods and Concepts. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 91:e89. [PMID: 31995285 PMCID: PMC7000165 DOI: 10.1002/cpns.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Generalization describes the transfer of conditioned responding to stimuli that perceptually differ from the original conditioned stimulus. One arena in which discriminant and generalized responding is of particular relevance is when stimuli signal the potential for harm. Aversive (fear) conditioning is a leading behavioral model for studying associative learning and memory processes related to threatening stimuli. This article describes a step-by-step protocol for studying discrimination and generalization using cued fear conditioning in rodents. Alternate conditioning paradigms, including context generalization, differential generalization, discrimination training, and safety learning, are also described. The protocol contains instructions for constructing a cued fear memory generalization gradient and methods for isolating discrete cued-from-context cued conditioned responses (i.e., "the baseline issue"). The preclinical study of generalization is highly pertinent in the context of fear learning and memory because a lack of fear discrimination (overgeneralization) likely contributes to the etiology of anxiety-related disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. © 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Basic Protocol 1: Tone cued fear generalization gradient Basic Protocol 2: Quantification of freezing Support Protocol: Alternate conditioning paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadley C Bergstrom
- Vassar College, Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Poughkeepsie, New York
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10
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Kordestani-Moghadam P, Nasehi M, Khodagholi F, Vaseghi S, Zarrindast MR, Khani M. The fluctuations of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) in the amygdala in fear conditioning model of male Wistar rats following sleep deprivation, reverse circadian and napping. Brain Res 2020; 1734:146739. [PMID: 32087111 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Sleep is involved in metabolic system, mental health and cognitive functions. Evidence shows that sleep deprivation (SD) negatively affects mental health and impairs cognitive functions, including learning and memory. Furthermore, the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) is a metabolic biomarker, which is affected by various conditions, including stress, sleep deprivation, and cognitive and psychiatric disorders. In this research, we investigated the effect of SD and reverse circadian (RC), and two models of napping (continuous and non-continuous) combined with SD or RC on fear-conditioning memory, anxiety-like behavior and mGluR5 fluctuations in the amygdala. 64 male Wistar rats were used in this study. The water box apparatus was used to induce SD/RC for 48 h, and fear-conditioning memory apparatus was used to assess fear memory. The results showed, fear-conditioning memory was impaired following SD and RC, especially in contextual stage. However, anxiety-like behavior was increased. Furthermore, mGluR5 was increased in the left amygdala more than the right amygdala. Additionally, continuous napping significantly improved fear-conditioning memory, especially freezing behavior. In conclusion, following SD and RC, fear-conditioning memory in contextual stage is more vulnerable than in auditory stage. Furthermore, increase in anxiety-like behavior is related to increase in the activity of left amygdala and mGluR5 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fariba Khodagholi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroendocrinology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojgan Khani
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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11
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Butler CW, Wilson YM, Mills SA, Gunnersen JM, Murphy M. Evidence that a defined population of neurons in lateral amygdala is directly involved in auditory fear learning and memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 168:107139. [PMID: 31843653 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Memory is thought to be encoded within networks of neurons within the brain, but the identity of the neurons involved and circuits they form have not been described for any memory. Previously, we used fos-tau-lacZ (FTL) transgenic mice to identify discrete populations of neurons in different regions of the brain which were specifically activated following fear conditioning. This suggested that these populations of neurons form nodes in a network that encodes fear memory. In particular, one population of learning activated neurons was found within a discrete region of the lateral amygdala (LA), a key nucleus required for fear conditioning. In order to provide evidence that this population is directly involved in fear conditioning, we have analysed the expression of a key molecular requirement for fear conditioning in LA, phosphorylated Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase 1 and 2 (pERK1/2). The only neurons in LA that specifically expressed pERK1/2 following auditory fear conditioning were in the ventrolateral nucleus of the LA (LAvl), in the same discrete region where we found learning specific FTL+ neurons. Double labelling experiments in FTL mice showed that a substantial proportion of the learning activated neurons expressed both pERK1/2 and FTL. These experiments provide clear evidence that the learning specific neurons we identified within LAvl are directly involved in auditory fear conditioning. In addition, learning specific expression of pERK1/2 was found in a dense network of dendrites contained within the border region of the LAvl. This network of dendrites may represent an activated dendritic field involved in fear conditioning in LA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Butler
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yvette M Wilson
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Samuel A Mills
- Biological Optical Microscopy Platform, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Jenny M Gunnersen
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mark Murphy
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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12
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Haaker J, Maren S, Andreatta M, Merz CJ, Richter J, Richter SH, Meir Drexler S, Lange MD, Jüngling K, Nees F, Seidenbecher T, Fullana MA, Wotjak CT, Lonsdorf TB. Making translation work: Harmonizing cross-species methodology in the behavioural neuroscience of Pavlovian fear conditioning. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:329-345. [PMID: 31521698 PMCID: PMC7822629 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Translational neuroscience bridges insights from specific mechanisms in rodents to complex functions in humans and is key to advance our general understanding of central nervous function. A prime example of translational research is the study of cross-species mechanisms that underlie responding to learned threats, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols in rodents and humans. Hitherto, evidence for (and critique of) these cross-species comparisons in fear conditioning research was based on theoretical viewpoints. Here, we provide a perspective to substantiate these theoretical concepts with empirical considerations of cross-species methodology. This meta-research perspective is expected to foster cross-species comparability and reproducibility to ultimately facilitate successful transfer of results from basic science into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Haaker
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Marta Andreatta
- Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christian J Merz
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Germany
| | - Jan Richter
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology/Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Shira Meir Drexler
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Germany
| | - Maren D Lange
- Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kay Jüngling
- Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Miquel A Fullana
- Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Neuronal Plasticity Research Group, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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13
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Hakim M, Battle AR, Belmer A, Bartlett SE, Johnson LR, Chehrehasa F. Pavlovian Olfactory Fear Conditioning: Its Neural Circuity and Importance for Understanding Clinical Fear-Based Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:221. [PMID: 31607858 PMCID: PMC6761252 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Odors have proven to be the most resilient trigger for memories of high emotional saliency. Fear associated olfactory memories pose a detrimental threat of potentially transforming into severe mental illness such as fear and anxiety-related disorders. Many studies have deliberated on auditory, visual and general contextual fear memory (CFC) processes; however, fewer studies have investigated mechanisms of olfactory fear memory. Evidence strongly suggests that the neuroanatomical representation of olfactory fear memory differs from that of auditory and visual fear memory. The aim of this review article is to revisit the literature regarding the understanding of the neurobiological process of fear conditioning and to illustrate the circuitry of olfactory fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marziah Hakim
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Mater Medical Research Institute and Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew R Battle
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Mater Medical Research Institute and Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Mater Medical Research Institute and Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Selena E Bartlett
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Mater Medical Research Institute and Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Mater Medical Research Institute and Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Division of Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia.,Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fatemeh Chehrehasa
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Mater Medical Research Institute and Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
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14
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Domínguez-Borràs J, Guex R, Méndez-Bértolo C, Legendre G, Spinelli L, Moratti S, Frühholz S, Mégevand P, Arnal L, Strange B, Seeck M, Vuilleumier P. Human amygdala response to unisensory and multisensory emotion input: No evidence for superadditivity from intracranial recordings. Neuropsychologia 2019; 131:9-24. [PMID: 31158367 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The amygdala is crucially implicated in processing emotional information from various sensory modalities. However, there is dearth of knowledge concerning the integration and relative time-course of its responses across different channels, i.e., for auditory, visual, and audiovisual input. Functional neuroimaging data in humans point to a possible role of this region in the multimodal integration of emotional signals, but direct evidence for anatomical and temporal overlap of unisensory and multisensory-evoked responses in amygdala is still lacking. We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) and oscillatory activity from 9 amygdalae using intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) in patients prior to epilepsy surgery, and compared electrophysiological responses to fearful, happy, or neutral stimuli presented either in voices alone, faces alone, or voices and faces simultaneously delivered. Results showed differential amygdala responses to fearful stimuli, in comparison to neutral, reaching significance 100-200 ms post-onset for auditory, visual and audiovisual stimuli. At later latencies, ∼400 ms post-onset, amygdala response to audiovisual information was also amplified in comparison to auditory or visual stimuli alone. Importantly, however, we found no evidence for either super- or subadditivity effects in any of the bimodal responses. These results suggest, first, that emotion processing in amygdala occurs at globally similar early stages of perceptual processing for auditory, visual, and audiovisual inputs; second, that overall larger responses to multisensory information occur at later stages only; and third, that the underlying mechanisms of this multisensory gain may reflect a purely additive response to concomitant visual and auditory inputs. Our findings provide novel insights on emotion processing across the sensory pathways, and their convergence within the limbic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Domínguez-Borràs
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland; Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Raphaël Guex
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland; Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | | | - Guillaume Legendre
- Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Basic Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Laurent Spinelli
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Stephan Moratti
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain; Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sascha Frühholz
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Pierre Mégevand
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Basic Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Luc Arnal
- Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Basic Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Bryan Strange
- Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain; Department of Neuroimaging, Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre, Reina Sofia-CIEN Foundation, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Margitta Seeck
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Patrik Vuilleumier
- Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Basic Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
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15
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Chaaya N, Jacques A, Belmer A, Beecher K, Ali SA, Chehrehasa F, Battle AR, Johnson LR, Bartlett SE. Contextual Fear Conditioning Alter Microglia Number and Morphology in the Rat Dorsal Hippocampus. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:214. [PMID: 31139053 PMCID: PMC6527886 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Contextual fear conditioning is a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm capable of rapidly creating fear memories to contexts, such as rooms or chambers. Contextual fear conditioning protocols have long been utilized to evaluate how fear memories are consolidated, maintained, expressed, recalled, and extinguished within the brain. These studies have identified the lateral portion of the amygdala and the dorsal portion of the hippocampus as essential for contextual fear memory consolidation. The current study was designed to evaluate how two different contextual fear memories alter amygdala and hippocampus microglia, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and phosphorylated cyclic-AMP response element binding (pCREB). We find rats provided with standard contextual fear conditioning to have more microglia and more cells expressing BDNF in the dentate gyrus as compared to a context only control group. Additionally, standard contextual fear conditioning altered microglia morphology to become amoeboid in shape – a common response to central nervous system insult, such as traumatic brain injury, infection, ischemia, and more. The unpaired fear conditioning procedure (whereby non-reinforced and non-overlapping auditory tones were provided at random intervals during conditioning), despite producing equivalent levels of fear as the standard procedure, did not alter microglia, BDNF or pCREB number in any dorsal hippocampus or lateral amygdala brain regions. Despite this, the unpaired fear conditioning protocol produced some alterations in microglia morphology, but less compared to rats provided with standard contextual fear conditioning. Results from this study demonstrate that contextual fear conditioning is capable of producing large alterations to dentate gyrus plasticity and microglia, whereas unpaired fear conditioning only produces minor changes to microglia morphology. These data show, for the first time, that Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols can induce similar responses as trauma, infection or other insults within the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chaaya
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela Jacques
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate Beecher
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Syed A Ali
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Chehrehasa
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew R Battle
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Selena E Bartlett
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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16
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Jacques A, Chaaya N, Hettiarachchi C, Carmody ML, Beecher K, Belmer A, Chehrehasa F, Bartlett S, Battle AR, Johnson LR. Microtopography of fear memory consolidation and extinction retrieval within prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:383-397. [PMID: 30610350 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5068-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The precise neural circuitry that encodes fear memory and its extinction within the brain are not yet fully understood. Fearful memories can be persistent, resistant to extinction, and associated with psychiatric disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, we investigated the microtopography of neurons activated during the recall of an extinguished fear memory, as well as the influence of time on this microtopography. METHODS We used the plasticity-related phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (pMAPK) to identify neurons activated in the recall of consolidated and extinguished auditory Pavlovian fear memories in rats. Quantitatively matched brain regions were used to investigate activity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. RESULTS Recall of a consolidated, nonextinguished auditory fear memory resulted in a significantly greater number of activated neurons located in the dorsolateral subdivision of the lateral amygdala (LADL) when recalled 24 h after consolidation but not when recalled 7 days later. We found that the recall of an extinction memory was associated with pMAPK activation in the ventrolateral subdivision of the lateral amygdala (LAVL). Next, we showed that the pattern of pMAPK expression in the prelimbic cortex differed spatially following temporal variation in the recall of that memory. The deep and superficial layers of the pre-limbic cortex were engaged in recent recall of a fear memory, but only the superficial layers were recruited if the recall occurred 7 days later. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our findings demonstrate a functional microtopography of auditory fear memory during consolidation and extinction at the microanatomical level within the lateral amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Jacques
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas Chaaya
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Chiemi Hettiarachchi
- Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Marie-Louise Carmody
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate Beecher
- Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Chehrehasa
- Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Selena Bartlett
- Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrew R Battle
- Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. .,Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, USU School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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17
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Chaaya N, Jacques A, Belmer A, Richard DJ, Bartlett SE, Battle AR, Johnson LR. Localization of Contextual and Context Removed Auditory Fear Memory within the Basolateral Amygdala Complex. Neuroscience 2018; 398:231-251. [PMID: 30552931 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Debilitating and persistent fear memories can rapidly form in humans following exposure to traumatic events. Fear memories can also be generated and studied in animals via Pavlovian fear conditioning. The current study was designed to evaluate basolateral amygdala complex (BLC) involvement following the formation of different fear memories (two contextual fear memories and one adjusted auditory fear memory). Fear memories were created in the same context with five 1.0 mA (0.50 s) foot-shocks and, where necessary, five auditory tones (5 kHz, 75 dB, 20 s). The adjusted auditory fear conditioning protocol was employed to remove background contextual fear and produce isolated auditory fear memories. Immunofluorescent labeling was utilized to identify neurons expressing immediate early genes (IEGs). We found the two contextual fear conditioning (CFC) procedures to produce similar levels of fear-related freezing to context. Contextual fear memories produced increases in BLC IEG expression with distinct and separate patterns of expression. These data suggest contextual fear memories created in slightly altered contexts, can produce unique patterns of amygdala activation. The adjusted auditory fear conditioning procedure produced memories to a tone, but not to a context. This group, where no contextual fear was present, had a significant reduction in BLC IEG expression. These data suggest background contextual fear memories, created in standard auditory fear conditioning protocols, contribute significantly to increases in amygdala activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Chaaya
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A Jacques
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A Belmer
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - D J Richard
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - S E Bartlett
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A R Battle
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - L R Johnson
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, USU School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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18
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Neuronal competition: microcircuit mechanisms define the sparsity of the engram. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 54:163-170. [PMID: 30423499 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Extensive work in computational modeling has highlighted the advantages for employing sparse yet distributed data representation and storage Kanerva (1998), properties that extend to neuronal networks encoding mnemonic information (memory traces or engrams). While neurons that participate in an engram are distributed across multiple brain regions, within each region, the cellular sparsity of the mnemonic representation appears to be quite fixed. Although technological advances have enabled significant progress in identifying and manipulating engrams, relatively little is known about the region-dependent microcircuit rules governing the cellular sparsity of an engram. Here we review recent studies examining the mechanisms that help shape engram architecture and examine how these processes may regulate memory function. We speculate that countervailing forces in local microcircuits contribute to the generation and maintenance of engrams and discuss emerging questions regarding how engrams are formed, stored and used.
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19
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Jacques A, Wright A, Chaaya N, Overell A, Bergstrom HC, McDonald C, Battle AR, Johnson LR. Functional Neuronal Topography: A Statistical Approach to Micro Mapping Neuronal Location. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:84. [PMID: 30386215 PMCID: PMC6198090 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to understand the relationship between neuronal organization and behavior, precise methods that identify and quantify functional cellular ensembles are required. This is especially true in the quest to understand the mechanisms of memory. Brain structures involved in memory formation and storage, as well as the molecular determinates of memory are well-known, however, the microanatomy of functional neuronal networks remain largely unidentified. We developed a novel approach to statistically map molecular markers in neuronal networks through quantitative topographic measurement. Brain nuclei and their subdivisions are well-defined - our approach allows for the identification of new functional micro-regions within established subdivisions. A set of analytic methods relevant for measurement of discrete neuronal data across a diverse range of brain subdivisions are presented. We provide a methodology for the measurement and quantitative comparison of functional micro-neural network activity based on immunohistochemical markers matched across individual brains using micro-binning and heat mapping within brain sub-nuclei. These techniques were applied to the measurement of different memory traces, allowing for greater understanding of the functional encoding within sub-nuclei and its behavior mediated change. These approaches can be used to understand other functional and behavioral questions, including sub-circuit organization, normal memory function and the complexities of pathology. Precise micro-mapping of functional neuronal topography provides essential data to decode network activity underlying behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Jacques
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counseling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alison Wright
- Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas Chaaya
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counseling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Anne Overell
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counseling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hadley C Bergstrom
- Psychological Science Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States
| | - Craig McDonald
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Andrew R Battle
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counseling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry and Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
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20
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Chaaya N, Battle AR, Johnson LR. An update on contextual fear memory mechanisms: Transition between Amygdala and Hippocampus. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 92:43-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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21
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Abstract
Memories for events are thought to be represented in sparse, distributed neuronal ensembles (or engrams). In this article, we review how neurons are chosen to become part of a particular engram, via a process of neuronal allocation. Experiments in rodents indicate that eligible neurons compete for allocation to a given engram, with more excitable neurons winning this competition. Moreover, fluctuations in neuronal excitability determine how engrams interact, promoting either memory integration (via coallocation to overlapping engrams) or separation (via disallocation to nonoverlapping engrams). In parallel with rodent studies, recent findings in humans verify the importance of this memory integration process for linking memories that occur close in time or share related content. A deeper understanding of allocation promises to provide insights into the logic underlying how knowledge is normally organized in the brain and the disorders in which this process has gone awry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena A Josselyn
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3, Canada; ,
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Brain, Mind & Consciousness Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Paul W Frankland
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3, Canada; ,
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Child & Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
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22
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Bergstrom HC. The neurocircuitry of remote cued fear memory. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:409-417. [PMID: 27693699 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Memories of threatening, fear-evoking events can persist even over a lifetime. While fear memory is widely considered to be a highly persistent and durable form of memory, its circuits are not. This article reviews the dynamic temporal representation of remote fear memory in the brain, at the level of local circuits and distributed networks. Data from the study of Pavlovian cued fear conditioning suggests memory retrieval remains amygdala-dependent, even over protracted time scales, all the while interconnected cortical and subcortical circuits are newly recruited and progressively reorganized. A deeper understanding into how the neurocircuitry of cued fear memory reorganizes with the passage of time will advance our ongoing search for the elusive physical changes representing fear memories in the brain. Considering that persistent, pathological fear memories are a hallmark feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the behavioral and circuit-level study of remote cued fear memory retrieval adds a key element towards a systems understanding of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadley C Bergstrom
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, United States.
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23
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Johnson LR. Editorial: How Fear and Stress Shape the Mind. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:24. [PMID: 27013997 PMCID: PMC4782011 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luke R Johnson
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Translational Research Institute, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innervation, Queensland University of TechnologyBrisbane, QLD, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University School of MedicineBethesda, MD, USA
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24
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Butler CW, Wilson YM, Gunnersen JM, Murphy M. Tracking the fear memory engram: discrete populations of neurons within amygdala, hypothalamus, and lateral septum are specifically activated by auditory fear conditioning. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 22:370-84. [PMID: 26179231 PMCID: PMC4509919 DOI: 10.1101/lm.037663.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Memory formation is thought to occur via enhanced synaptic connectivity between populations of neurons in the brain. However, it has been difficult to localize and identify the neurons that are directly involved in the formation of any specific memory. We have previously used fos-tau-lacZ (FTL) transgenic mice to identify discrete populations of neurons in amygdala and hypothalamus, which were specifically activated by fear conditioning to a context. Here we have examined neuronal activation due to fear conditioning to a more specific auditory cue. Discrete populations of learning-specific neurons were identified in only a small number of locations in the brain, including those previously found to be activated in amygdala and hypothalamus by context fear conditioning. These populations, each containing only a relatively small number of neurons, may be directly involved in fear learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Butler
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yvette M Wilson
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Jenny M Gunnersen
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mark Murphy
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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