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Oleksiak CR, Plas SL, Carriaga D, Vasudevan K, Maren S, Moscarello JM. Ventral hippocampus mediates inter-trial responding in signaled active avoidance. Behav Brain Res 2024; 470:115071. [PMID: 38806099 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus has a central role in regulating contextual processes in memory. We have shown that pharmacological inactivation of ventral hippocampus (VH) attenuates the context-dependence of signaled active avoidance (SAA) in rats. Here, we explore whether the VH mediates intertrial responses (ITRs), which are putative unreinforced avoidance responses that occur between trials. First, we examined whether VH inactivation would affect ITRs. Male rats underwent SAA training and subsequently received intra-VH infusions of saline or muscimol before retrieval tests in the training context. Rats that received muscimol performed significantly fewer ITRs, but equivalent avoidance responses, compared to controls. Next, we asked whether chemogenetic VH activation would increase ITR vigor. In male and female rats expressing excitatory (hM3Dq) DREADDs, systemic CNO administration produced a robust ITR increase that was not due to nonspecific locomotor effects. Then, we examined whether chemogenetic VH activation potentiated ITRs in an alternate (non-training) test context and found it did. Finally, to determine if context-US associations mediate ITRs, we exposed rats to the training context for three days after SAA training to extinguish the context. Rats submitted to context extinction did not show a reliable decrease in ITRs during a retrieval test, suggesting that context-US associations are not responsible for ITRs. Collectively, these results reveal an important role for the VH in context-dependent ITRs during SAA. Further work is required to explore the neural circuits and associative basis for these responses, which may be underlie pathological avoidance that occurs in humans after threat has passed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecily R Oleksiak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Samantha L Plas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Denise Carriaga
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, TX 78539
| | - Krithika Vasudevan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Justin M Moscarello
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA.
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2
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Gomes-de-Souza L, Busnardo C, Santos A, Paz HS, Resstel LB, Planeta CS, Nunes-de-Souza RL, Crestani CC. Functional lateralization in the medial prefrontal cortex control of contextual conditioned emotional responses in rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 133:111015. [PMID: 38653363 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111015] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
A functional lateralization has been reported in control of emotional responses by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, a hemisphere asymmetry in involvement of the mPFC in expression of fear conditioning responses has never been reported. Therefore, we investigated whether control by mPFC of freezing and cardiovascular responses during re-exposure to an aversively conditioned context is lateralized. For this, rats had guide cannulas directed to the mPFC implanted bilaterally or unilaterally in the right or left hemispheres. Vehicle or the non-selective synaptic inhibitor CoCl2 was microinjected into the mPFC 10 min before re-exposure to a chamber where the animals had previously received footshocks. A catheter was implanted into the femoral artery before the fear retrieval test for cardiovascular recordings. We observed that bilateral microinjection of CoCl2 into the mPFC reduced both the freezing behavior (enhancing locomotion and rearing) and arterial pressure and heart rate increases during re-exposure to the aversively conditioned context. Unilateral microinjection of CoCl2 into the right hemisphere of the mPFC also decreased the freezing behavior (enhancing locomotion and rearing), but without affecting the cardiovascular changes. Conversely, unilateral synaptic inhibition in the left mPFC did not affect either behavioral or cardiovascular responses during fear retrieval test. Taken together, these results suggest that the right hemisphere of the mPFC is necessary and sufficient for expression of freezing behavior to contextual fear conditioning. However, the control of cardiovascular responses and freezing behavior during fear retrieval test is somehow dissociated in the mPFC, being the former bilaterally processed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gomes-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Busnardo
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Adrielly Santos
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Higor S Paz
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Leonardo B Resstel
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Cleopatra S Planeta
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo L Nunes-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos C Crestani
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
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Trujillo-Llano C, Sainz-Ballesteros A, Suarez-Ardila F, Gonzalez-Gadea ML, Ibáñez A, Herrera E, Baez S. Neuroanatomical markers of social cognition in neglected adolescents. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 31:100642. [PMID: 38800539 PMCID: PMC11127280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing up in neglectful households can impact multiple aspects of social cognition. However, research on neglect's effects on social cognition processes and their neuroanatomical correlates during adolescence is scarce. Here, we aimed to comprehensively assess social cognition processes (recognition of basic and contextual emotions, theory of mind, the experience of envy and Schadenfreude and empathy for pain) and their structural brain correlates in adolescents with legal neglect records within family-based care. First, we compared neglected adolescents (n = 27) with control participants (n = 25) on context-sensitive social cognition tasks while controlling for physical and emotional abuse and executive and intellectual functioning. Additionally, we explored the grey matter correlates of these domains through voxel-based morphometry. Compared to controls, neglected adolescents exhibited lower performance in contextual emotional recognition and theory of mind, higher levels of envy and Schadenfreude and diminished empathy. Physical and emotional abuse and executive or intellectual functioning did not explain these effects. Moreover, social cognition scores correlated with brain volumes in regions subserving social cognition and emotional processing. Our results underscore the potential impact of neglect on different aspects of social cognition during adolescence, emphasizing the necessity for preventive and intervention strategies to address these deficits in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Trujillo-Llano
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Agustín Sainz-Ballesteros
- Department of Psychology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for High-Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - María Luz Gonzalez-Gadea
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eduar Herrera
- Universidad Icesi, Departamento de Estudios Psicológicos, Cali, Colombia
| | - Sandra Baez
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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4
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Karpov G, Lin MH, Headley DB, Baker TE. Oscillatory correlates of threat imminence during virtual navigation. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14551. [PMID: 38516942 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The Predatory Imminence Continuum Theory proposes that defensive behaviors depend on the proximity of a threat. While the neural mechanisms underlying this proposal are well studied in animal models, it remains poorly understood in humans. To address this issue, we recorded EEG from 24 (15 female) young adults engaged in a first-person virtual reality Risk-Reward interaction task. On each trial, participants were placed in a virtual room and presented with either a threat or reward conditioned stimulus (CS) in the same room location (proximal) or different room location (distal). Behaviorally, all participants learned to avoid the threat-CS, with most using the optimal behavior to actively avoid the proximal threat-CS (88% accuracy) and passively avoid the distal threat-CS (69% accuracy). Similarly, participants learned to actively approach the distal reward-CS (82% accuracy) and to remain passive to the proximal reward-CS (72% accuracy). At an electrophysiological level, we observed a general increase in theta power (4-8 Hz) over the right posterior channel P8 across all conditions, with the proximal threat-CS evoking the largest theta response. By contrast, distal cues induced two bursts of gamma (30-60 Hz) power over midline-parietal channel Pz (200 msec post-cue) and right frontal channel Fp2 (300 msec post-cue). Interestingly, the first burst of gamma power was sensitive to the distal threat-CS and the second burst at channel Fp2 was sensitive to the distal reward-CS. Together, these findings demonstrate that oscillatory processes differentiate between the spatial proximity information during threat and reward encoding, likely optimizing the selection of the appropriate behavioral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galit Karpov
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Mei-Heng Lin
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Drew B Headley
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Travis E Baker
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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Waisman A, Katz J. The autobiographical memory system and chronic pain: A neurocognitive framework for the initiation and maintenance of chronic pain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105736. [PMID: 38796124 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain affects approximately 20% of the world's population, exerting a substantial burden on the affected individual, their families, and healthcare systems globally. Deficits in autobiographical memory have been identified among individuals living with chronic pain, and even found to pose a risk for the transition to chronicity. Recent neuroimaging studies have simultaneously implicated common brain regions central to autobiographical memory processing in the maintenance of and susceptibility to chronic pain. The present review proposes a novel neurocognitive framework for chronic pain explained by mechanisms underlying the autobiographical memory system. Here, we 1) summarize the current literature on autobiographical memory in pain, 2) discuss the role of the hippocampus and cortical brain regions including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, anterior temporal lobe, and amygdala in relation to autobiographical memory, memory schemas, emotional processing, and pain, 3) synthesize these findings in a neurocognitive framework that explains these relationships and their implications for patients' pain outcomes, and 4) propose translational directions for the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Waisman
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Joel Katz
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Joo B, Xu S, Park H, Kim K, Rah JC, Koo JW. Parietal-Frontal Pathway Controls Relapse of Fear Memory in a Novel Context. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100315. [PMID: 38726036 PMCID: PMC11078648 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100315] [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] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Fear responses significantly affect daily life and shape our approach to uncertainty. However, the potential resurgence of fear in unfamiliar situations poses a significant challenge to exposure-based therapies for maladaptive fear responses. Nonetheless, how novel contextual stimuli are associated with the relapse of extinguished fear remains unknown. Methods Using a context-dependent fear renewal model, the functional circuits and underlying mechanisms of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were investigated using optogenetic, histological, in vivo, and ex vivo electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques. Results We demonstrated that the PPC-to-ACC pathway governs fear relapse in a novel context. We observed enhanced populational calcium activity in the ACC neurons that received projections from the PPC and increased synaptic activity in the basolateral amygdala-projecting PPC-to-ACC neurons upon renewal in a novel context, where excitatory postsynaptic currents amplitudes increased but inhibitory postsynaptic current amplitudes decreased. In addition, we found that parvalbumin-expressing interneurons controlled novel context-dependent fear renewal, which was blocked by the chronic administration of fluoxetine. Conclusions Our findings highlight the PPC-to-ACC pathway in mediating the relapse of extinguished fear in novel contexts, thereby contributing significant insights into the intricate neural mechanisms that govern fear renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bitna Joo
- Emotion, Cognition and Behavior Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Shijie Xu
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Hyungju Park
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Neurovascular Unit Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kipom Kim
- Research Strategy Office, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Cheol Rah
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Sensory & Motor Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja Wook Koo
- Emotion, Cognition and Behavior Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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7
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Hinkle JJ, Olschowka JA, Williams JP, O'Banion MK. Pharmacologic Manipulation of Complement Receptor 3 Prevents Dendritic Spine Loss and Cognitive Impairment After Acute Cranial Radiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 119:912-923. [PMID: 38142839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cranial irradiation induces healthy tissue damage that can lead to neurocognitive complications, negatively affecting patient quality of life. One damage indicator associated with cognitive impairment is loss of neuronal spine density. We previously demonstrated that irradiation-mediated spine loss is microglial complement receptor 3 (CR3) and sex dependent. We hypothesized that these changes are associated with late-delayed cognitive deficits and amenable to pharmacologic intervention. METHODS AND MATERIALS Our model of cranial irradiation (acute, 10 Gy gamma) used male and female CR3-wild type and CR3-deficient Thy-1 YFP mice of C57BL/6 background. Forty-five days after irradiation and behavioral testing, we quantified spine density and markers of microglial reactivity in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. In a separate experiment, male Thy-1 YFP C57BL/6 mice were treated with leukadherin-1, a modulator of CR3 function. RESULTS We found that male mice demonstrate irradiation-mediated spine loss and cognitive deficits but that female and CR3 knockout mice do not. These changes were associated with greater reactivity of microglia in male mice. Pharmacologic manipulation of CR3 with LA1 prevented spine loss and cognitive deficits in irradiated male mice. CONCLUSIONS This work improves our understanding of irradiation-mediated mechanisms and sex dependent responses and may help identify novel therapeutics to reduce irradiation-induced cognitive decline and improve patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Hinkle
- Department of Neuroscience and Del Monte Neuroscience Institute
| | | | | | - M Kerry O'Banion
- Department of Neuroscience and Del Monte Neuroscience Institute; Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York.
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Manassero E, Concina G, Caraig MCC, Sarasso P, Salatino A, Ricci R, Sacchetti B. Medial anterior prefrontal cortex stimulation downregulates implicit reactions to threats and prevents the return of fear. eLife 2024; 13:e85951. [PMID: 38913410 PMCID: PMC11196108 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Downregulating emotional overreactions toward threats is fundamental for developing treatments for anxiety and post-traumatic disorders. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for top-down modulatory processes, and despite previous studies adopting repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over this region provided encouraging results in enhancing extinction, no studies have hitherto explored the effects of stimulating the medial anterior PFC (aPFC, encompassing the Brodmann area 10) on threat memory and generalization. Here we showed that rTMS over the aPFC applied before threat memory retrieval immediately decreases implicit reactions to learned and novel stimuli in humans. These effects enduringly persisted 1 week later in the absence of rTMS. No effects were detected on explicit recognition. Critically, rTMS over the aPFC resulted in a more pronounced reduction of defensive responses compared to rTMS targeting the dorsolateral PFC. These findings reveal a previously unexplored prefrontal region, the modulation of which can efficiently and durably inhibit implicit reactions to learned threats. This represents a significant advancement toward the long-term deactivation of exaggerated responses to threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenio Manassero
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neurosciences, University of TurinTurinItaly
| | - Giulia Concina
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neurosciences, University of TurinTurinItaly
| | | | | | | | | | - Benedetto Sacchetti
- Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neurosciences, University of TurinTurinItaly
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9
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Lei GLT, Lai CSW, Lee TMC, Lam CLM. The effect of transcranial direct current and magnetic stimulation on fear extinction and return of fear: A meta-analysis and systematic review. J Affect Disord 2024:S0165-0327(24)00991-1. [PMID: 38908557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We conducted a meta-analysis and qualitative review on the randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation on fear extinction and the return of fear in non-primate animals and humans. METHODS The meta-analysis was conducted by searching PubMed, Web of science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library and extracting fear response in the active and sham groups in the randomized controlled trials. The pooled effect size was quantified by Hedges' g using a three-level meta-analytic model in R. RESULTS We identified 18 articles on the tDCS effect and 5 articles on the TMS effect, with 466 animal subjects and 621 human subjects. Our findings show that tDCS of the prefrontal cortex significantly inhibit fear retrieval in animal models (Hedges' g = -0.50). In human studies, TMS targeting the dorsolateral/ventromedial prefrontal cortex has an inhibiting effect on the return of fear (Hedges' g = -0.24). LIMITATIONS The limited number of studies and the heterogeneous designs of the selected studies made cross-study and cross-species comparison difficult. CONCLUSIONS Our findings shed light on the optimal non-invasive brain stimulation protocols for targeting the neural circuitry of threat extinction in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace L T Lei
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory of Clinical Psychology and Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cora S W Lai
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China
| | - Charlene L M Lam
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory of Clinical Psychology and Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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10
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Genheimer H, Pauli P, Andreatta M. Elemental and configural representation of a conditioned context. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115119. [PMID: 38906481 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
A context can be conceptualized as a stable arrangement of elements or as the sum of single elements. Both configural and elemental representations play a role in associative processes. This study aimed to explore the respective contributions of these two representations of a context in the acquisition of conditioned anxiety in humans. Virtual reality (VR) can be an ecologically valid tool to investigate context-related mechanisms, yet the influence of the sense of presence within the virtual environment remains unclear. Forty-eight healthy individuals participated in a VR-based context conditioning wherein electric shocks (unconditioned stimulus, US) were unpredictably delivered in one virtual office (CTX+), but not in the other (CTX-). During the test phase, nine elements from each context were presented singularly. We found a cluster of participants, who exhibited heightened anticipation of the US for anxiety-related elements as compared to the other group. In contrast to their clear elemental representation, these individuals showed diminished discriminative responses between the two context's configurations. Discriminative responses to the contexts were boosted in those individuals, who had a weaker elemental representation. Importantly, the individual sense of presence significantly influenced the conditioned responses. These findings align with the dual-representation view of context and provide insights into the role of presence in eliciting (conditioned) anxiety responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Genheimer
- Department of Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Germany; Center of Mental Health, Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marta Andreatta
- General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.
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11
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Song Y, Guo SH, Davies-Jenkins CW, Guarda A, Edden RAE, Smith KR. Myo-inositol Levels in the Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Predicts Anxiety-to-Eat in Anorexia Nervosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596476. [PMID: 38854088 PMCID: PMC11160692 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Background Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental and behavioral health condition characterized by an intense fear of weight or fat gain, severe restriction of food intake resulting in low body weight, and distorted self-perception of body shape or weight. While substantial research has focused on general anxiety in AN, less is known about eating-related anxiety and its underlying neural mechanisms. Therefore, we sought to characterize anxiety-to-eat in AN and examine the neurometabolic profile within the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), a brain region putatively involved in magnifying the threat response. Methods Women seeking inpatient treatment for AN and women of healthy weight without a lifetime history of an eating disorder (healthy controls; HC) completed a computer-based behavioral task assessing anxiety-to-eat in response to images of higher (HED) and lower (LED) energy density foods. Participants also underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the dACC in a 3 Tesla scanner. Results The AN group reported greater anxiety to eat HED and LED foods relative to the HC group. Both groups reported greater anxiety to eat HED foods relative to LED foods. The neurometabolite myo-inositol (mI) was lower in the dACC in AN relative to HC, and mI levels negatively predicted anxiety to eat HED but not LED foods in the AN group only. mI levels in the dACC were independent of body weight, body mass, and general anxiety. Conclusions These findings provide critical new insight into the clinically challenging feature and underlying neural mechanisms of eating-related anxiety and indicate mI levels in the dACC could serve as a novel biomarker of illness severity that is independent of body weight to identify individuals vulnerable to disordered eating or eating pathology as well as a potential therapeutic target.
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12
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N'Diaye M, Ducourneau EG, Bakoyiannis I, Potier M, Lafenetre P, Ferreira G. Obesogenic diet induces sex-specific alterations of contextual fear memory and associated hippocampal activity in mice. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae254. [PMID: 38934712 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In addition to metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, obesity is associated with cognitive deficits in humans and animal models. We have previously shown that obesogenic high-fat and sugar diet intake during adolescence (adoHFSD) impairs hippocampus (HPC)-dependent memory in rodents. These results were obtained in males only and it remains to evaluate whether adoHFSD has similar effect in females. Therefore, here, we investigated the effects of adoHFSD consumption on HPC-dependent contextual fear memory and associated brain activation in male and female mice. Exposure to adoHFSD increased fat mass accumulation and glucose levels in both males and females but impaired contextual fear memory only in males. Compared with females, contextual fear conditioning induced higher neuronal activation in the dorsal and ventral HPC (CA1 and CA3 subfields) as well as in the medial prefrontal cortex in males. Also, adoHFSD-fed males showed enhanced c-Fos expression in the dorsal HPC, particularly in the dentate gyrus, and in the basolateral amygdala compared with the other groups. Finally, chemogenetic inactivation of the dorsal HPC rescued adoHFSD-induced memory deficits in males. Our results suggest that males are more vulnerable to the effects of adoHFSD on HPC-dependent aversive memory than females, due to overactivation of the dorsal HPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matéo N'Diaye
- NutriNeuro Lab, FoodCircus Team, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1286 INRAE, Bordeaux INP, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Eva-Gunnel Ducourneau
- NutriNeuro Lab, FoodCircus Team, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1286 INRAE, Bordeaux INP, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Ioannis Bakoyiannis
- NutriNeuro Lab, FoodCircus Team, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1286 INRAE, Bordeaux INP, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mylène Potier
- NutriNeuro Lab, FoodCircus Team, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1286 INRAE, Bordeaux INP, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Pauline Lafenetre
- NutriNeuro Lab, FoodCircus Team, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1286 INRAE, Bordeaux INP, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Guillaume Ferreira
- NutriNeuro Lab, FoodCircus Team, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1286 INRAE, Bordeaux INP, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
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13
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Wardell V, Stewardson CI, Hunsche MC, Chen FS, Rights JD, Palombo DJ, Kerns CM. Are autistic traits associated with a social-emotional memory bias? Behav Res Ther 2024; 180:104578. [PMID: 38875935 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Autistic traits are associated with differential processing of emotional and social cues. By contrast little is known about the relationship of autistic traits to socio-emotional memory, though research suggests an integral relationship between episodic memory processes and psychosocial well-being. Using an experimental paradigm, we tested if autistic traits moderate the effects of negative emotion and social cues on episodic memory (i.e. memory for past events). Young adults (N = 706) with varied levels of self-reported autistic traits (24% in clinical range) encoded images stratified by emotion (negative, neutral) and social cues (social, non-social) alongside a neutral object. After 24 h, item memory for images and associative memory for objects was tested. For item memory, after controlling for anxiety, a small effect emerged whereby a memory-enhancing effect of social cues was reduced as autistic traits increased. For associative memory, memory for pairings between neutral, but not negative, images reduced as autistic traits increased. Results suggest autistic traits are associated with reduced ability to bind neutral items together in memory, potentially impeding nuanced appraisals of past experience. This bias toward more negative, less nuanced memories of past experience may represent a cognitive vulnerability to social and mental health challenges commonly associated with autistic traits and a potential intervention target.
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Liu Y, Ye S, Li XN, Li WG. Memory Trace for Fear Extinction: Fragile yet Reinforceable. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:777-794. [PMID: 37812300 PMCID: PMC11178705 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01129-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear extinction is a biological process in which learned fear behavior diminishes without anticipated reinforcement, allowing the organism to re-adapt to ever-changing situations. Based on the behavioral hypothesis that extinction is new learning and forms an extinction memory, this new memory is more readily forgettable than the original fear memory. The brain's cellular and synaptic traces underpinning this inherently fragile yet reinforceable extinction memory remain unclear. Intriguing questions are about the whereabouts of the engram neurons that emerged during extinction learning and how they constitute a dynamically evolving functional construct that works in concert to store and express the extinction memory. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the engram circuits and their neural connectivity plasticity for fear extinction, aiming to establish a conceptual framework for understanding the dynamic competition between fear and extinction memories in adaptive control of conditioned fear responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shuai Ye
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin-Ni Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei-Guang Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Huashan Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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15
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Zhang Y, Xu C, Gu Y. Context Processing in Contextual and Cued Fear Extinction. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:835-839. [PMID: 38619694 PMCID: PMC11178715 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01205-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yimu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chun Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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16
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Liang J, Chen L, Li Y, Chen Y, Yuan L, Qiu Y, Ma S, Fan F, Cheng Y. Unraveling the Prefrontal Cortex-Basolateral Amygdala Pathway's Role on Schizophrenia's Cognitive Impairments: A Multimodal Study in Patients and Mouse Models. Schizophr Bull 2024:sbae063. [PMID: 38811350 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS This study investigated the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-basolateral amygdala (BLA) pathway in schizophrenia (SCZ)-related cognitive impairments using various techniques. STUDY DESIGN This study utilized clinical scales, magnetic resonance imaging, single-cell RNA sequencing, and optogenetics to investigate the mPFC-BLA pathway in SCZ patients. In the mouse model, 6-week-old methylazoxymethanol acetate-induced mice demonstrated significant cognitive deficits, which were addressed through stereotaxic injections of an adeno-associated viral vector to unveil the neural connection between the mPFC and BLA. STUDY RESULTS Significant disparities in brain volume and neural activity, particularly in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and BLA regions, were found between SCZ patients and healthy controls. Additionally, we observed correlations indicating that reduced volumes of the DLPFC and BLA were associated with lower cognitive function scores. Activation of the mPFC-BLA pathway notably improved cognitive performance in the SCZ model mice, with the targeting of excitatory or inhibitory neurons alone failing to replicate this effect. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling revealed gene expression differences in excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the BLA of SCZ model mice. Notably, genes differentially expressed in the BLA of these model mice were also found in the blood exosomes of SCZ patients. CONCLUSIONS Our research provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of the PFC-BLA pathway in SCZ, underscoring its significance in cognitive impairment and offering novel diagnostic and therapeutic avenues. Additionally, our research highlights the potential of blood exosomal mRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for SCZ diagnosis, underscoring the clinical feasibility and utility of this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaquan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
- The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yongbiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yuewen Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yue Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuangshuang Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fangcheng Fan
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
- Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
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17
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Iqbal MA, Bilen M, Liu Y, Jabre V, Fong BC, Chakroun I, Paul S, Chen J, Wade S, Kanaan M, Harper ME, Khacho M, Slack RS. The integrated stress response promotes neural stem cell survival under conditions of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration. Aging Cell 2024:e14165. [PMID: 38757355 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Impaired mitochondrial function is a hallmark of aging and a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases. We have shown that disrupted mitochondrial dynamics typically found in aging alters the fate of neural stem cells (NSCs) leading to impairments in learning and memory. At present, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which neural stem and progenitor cells survive and adapt to mitochondrial dysfunction. Using Opa1-inducible knockout as a model of aging and neurodegeneration, we identify a decline in neurogenesis due to impaired stem cell activation and progenitor proliferation, which can be rescued by the mitigation of oxidative stress through hypoxia. Through sc-RNA-seq, we identify the ATF4 pathway as a critical mechanism underlying cellular adaptation to metabolic stress. ATF4 knockdown in Opa1-deficient NSCs accelerates cell death, while the increased expression of ATF4 enhances proliferation and survival. Using a Slc7a11 mutant, an ATF4 target, we show that ATF4-mediated glutathione production plays a critical role in maintaining NSC survival and function under stress conditions. Together, we show that the activation of the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway enables NSCs to adapt to metabolic stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic stress and may serve as a therapeutic target to enhance NSC survival and function in aging and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ariff Iqbal
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Bilen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yubing Liu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vanessa Jabre
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bensun C Fong
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Imane Chakroun
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Smitha Paul
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jingwei Chen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven Wade
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Neuromuscular Disease (CNMD), Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michel Kanaan
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mary-Ellen Harper
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mireille Khacho
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Neuromuscular Disease (CNMD), Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth S Slack
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Plaitakis A, Sidiropoulou K, Kotzamani D, Litso I, Zaganas I, Spanaki C. Evolution of Glutamate Metabolism via GLUD2 Enhances Lactate-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity and Complex Cognition. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5297. [PMID: 38791334 PMCID: PMC11120665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human evolution is characterized by rapid brain enlargement and the emergence of unique cognitive abilities. Besides its distinctive cytoarchitectural organization and extensive inter-neuronal connectivity, the human brain is also defined by high rates of synaptic, mainly glutamatergic, transmission, and energy utilization. While these adaptations' origins remain elusive, evolutionary changes occurred in synaptic glutamate metabolism in the common ancestor of humans and apes via the emergence of GLUD2, a gene encoding the human glutamate dehydrogenase 2 (hGDH2) isoenzyme. Driven by positive selection, hGDH2 became adapted to function upon intense excitatory firing, a process central to the long-term strengthening of synaptic connections. It also gained expression in brain astrocytes and cortical pyramidal neurons, including the CA1-CA3 hippocampal cells, neurons crucial to cognition. In mice transgenic for GLUD2, theta-burst-evoked long-term potentiation (LTP) is markedly enhanced in hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses, with patch-clamp recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons revealing increased sNMDA receptor currents. D-lactate blocked LTP enhancement, implying that glutamate metabolism via hGDH2 potentiates L-lactate-dependent glia-neuron interaction, a process essential to memory consolidation. The transgenic (Tg) mice exhibited increased dendritic spine density/synaptogenesis in the hippocampus and improved complex cognitive functions. Hence, enhancement of neuron-glia communication, via GLUD2 evolution, likely contributed to human cognitive advancement by potentiating synaptic plasticity and inter-neuronal connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Plaitakis
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitra Kotzamani
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Ionela Litso
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
- Neurology Department, PaGNI University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Cleanthe Spanaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
- Neurology Department, PaGNI University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Coulter ME, Gillespie AK, Chu J, Denovellis EL, Nguyen TTK, Liu DF, Wadhwani K, Sharma B, Wang K, Deng X, Eden UT, Kemere C, Frank LM. Closed-loop modulation of remote hippocampal representations with neurofeedback. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.08.593085. [PMID: 38766135 PMCID: PMC11100667 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.08.593085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Humans can remember specific events without acting on them and can influence which memories are retrieved based on internal goals. However, current animal models of memory typically present sensory cues to trigger retrieval and assess retrieval based on action 1-5 . As a result, it is difficult to determine whether measured patterns of neural activity relate to the cue(s), the retrieved memory, or the behavior. We therefore asked whether we could develop a paradigm to isolate retrieval-related neural activity in animals without retrieval cues or the requirement of a behavioral report. To do this, we focused on hippocampal "place cells." These cells primarily emit spiking patterns that represent the animal's current location (local representations), but they can also generate representations of previously visited locations distant from the animal's current location (remote representations) 6-13 . It is not known whether animals can deliberately engage specific remote representations, and if so, whether this engagement would occur during specific brain states. So, we used a closed-loop neurofeedback system to reward expression of remote representations that corresponded to uncued, experimenter-selected locations, and found that rats could increase the prevalence of these specific remote representations over time; thus, demonstrating memory retrieval modulated by internal goals in an animal model. These representations occurred predominately during periods of immobility but outside of hippocampal sharp-wave ripple (SWR) 13-15 events. This paradigm enables future direct studies of memory retrieval mechanisms in the healthy brain and in models of neurological disorders.
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20
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Wehrli JM, Xia Y, Abivardi A, Kleim B, Bach DR. The impact of doxycycline on human contextual fear memory. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1065-1077. [PMID: 38334789 PMCID: PMC11031495 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06540-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Previous work identified an attenuating effect of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor doxycycline on fear memory consolidation. This may present a new mechanistic approach for the prevention of trauma-related disorders. However, so far, this has only been unambiguously demonstrated in a cued delay fear conditioning paradigm, in which a simple geometric cue predicted a temporally overlapping aversive outcome. This form of learning is mainly amygdala dependent. Psychological trauma often involves the encoding of contextual cues, which putatively necessitates partly different neural circuits including the hippocampus. The role of MMP signalling in the underlying neural pathways in humans is unknown. METHODS Here, we investigated the effect of doxycycline on configural fear conditioning in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial with 100 (50 females) healthy human participants. RESULTS Our results show that participants successfully learned and retained, after 1 week, the context-shock association in both groups. We find no group difference in fear memory retention in either of our pre-registered outcome measures, startle eye-blink responses and pupil dilation. Contrary to expectations, we identified elevated fear-potentiated startle in the doxycycline group early in the recall test, compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that doxycycline does not substantially attenuate contextual fear memory. This might limit its potential for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena M Wehrli
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yanfang Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aslan Abivardi
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, FMRIB Building, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Birgit Kleim
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominik R Bach
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5EH, UK.
- Hertz Chair for Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, Transdisciplinary Research Area Life & Health , University of Bonn, Am Probsthof 49, 53121, Bonn, Germany.
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21
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Oliveira A, Azevedo M, Seixas R, Martinho R, Serrão P, Moreira-Rodrigues M. Glucose may Contribute to Retrieval and Reconsolidation of Contextual Fear Memory Through Hippocampal Nr4a3 and Bdnf mRNA Expression and May Act Synergically with Adrenaline. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:2784-2797. [PMID: 37938511 PMCID: PMC11043124 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03745-6] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Adrenaline (Ad) and glucose released into the bloodstream during stress may strengthen contextual fear memory. However, no previous studies have detached the effects of glucose from Ad in this paradigm. Using Ad-deficient mice, we aimed to evaluate the effect of glucose on contextual fear memory when endogenous Ad is absent. Fear conditioning was performed in wild-type (WT) and Ad-deficient mice (129 × 1/SvJ) administered with glucose (30 or 10 mg/kg; i.p.) or/and Ad (0.01 mg/kg; i.p.) or vehicle (0.9% NaCl; i.p.). Catecholamines were quantified using HPLC-ED. Real-time qPCR was used to assess mRNA expression of hippocampal genes. WT and Ad-deficient mice display increased contextual fear memory when administered with glucose both in acquisition and context days when compared to vehicle. Also, Nr4a3 and Bdnf mRNA expression increased in glucose-administered Ad-deficient mice. Sub-effective doses of glucose plus Ad administered simultaneously to Ad-deficient mice increased contextual fear memory, contrary to independent sub-effective doses. Concluding, glucose may be an important part of the peripheral to central pathway involved in the retrieval and reconsolidation of fear contextual memories independently of Ad, possibly due to increased hippocampal Nr4a3 and Bdnf gene expression. Furthermore, Ad and glucose may act synergically to strengthen contextual fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Oliveira
- Department of Immuno-physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory of General Physiology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Building 2, Floor 4, Cabinet 22, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
- Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto (MedInUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Márcia Azevedo
- Department of Immuno-physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory of General Physiology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Building 2, Floor 4, Cabinet 22, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
- Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto (MedInUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Rafaela Seixas
- Department of Immuno-physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory of General Physiology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Building 2, Floor 4, Cabinet 22, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
- Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto (MedInUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Martinho
- Department of Immuno-physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory of General Physiology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Building 2, Floor 4, Cabinet 22, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
- Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto (MedInUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Serrão
- Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto (MedInUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Mónica Moreira-Rodrigues
- Department of Immuno-physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory of General Physiology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Building 2, Floor 4, Cabinet 22, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal.
- Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto (MedInUP), Porto, Portugal.
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22
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Jeong M, Jang JH, Oh SJ, Park J, Lee J, Hwang S, Oh YS. Maladaptation of dentate gyrus mossy cells mediates contextual discrimination deficit after traumatic stress. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114000. [PMID: 38527063 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114000] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Fear overgeneralization is a maladaptive response to traumatic stress that is associated with the inability to discriminate between threat and safety contexts, a hallmark feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the neural mechanisms underlying this deficit remain unclear. Here, we show that traumatic stress exposure impairs contextual discrimination between threat and safety contexts in the learned helplessness (LH) model. Mossy cells (MCs) in the dorsal hippocampus are suppressed in response to traumatic stress. Bidirectional manipulation of MC activity in the LH model reveals that MC inhibition is causally linked to impaired contextual discrimination. Mechanistically, MC inhibition increases the number of active granule cells in a given context, significantly overlapping context-specific ensembles. Our study demonstrates that maladaptive inhibition of MCs after traumatic stress is a substantial mechanism underlying fear overgeneralization with contextual discrimination deficit, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for cognitive symptoms of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minseok Jeong
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hyeok Jang
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo-Jin Oh
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongrak Park
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Junseop Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehyeon Hwang
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Seok Oh
- Department of Brain Sciences, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea; Emotion, Cognition & Behavior Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, 61 Cheomdan-ro, Daegu 41062, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Klein AM, Hagen A, Mobach L, Zimmermann R, Baartmans JMD, Rahemenia J, de Gier E, Schneider S, Ollendick TH. The Importance of Practicing at Home During and Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Conceptual Review and New Directions to Enhance Homework Using Mhealth Technology. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2024:10.1007/s10567-024-00476-5. [PMID: 38616213 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-024-00476-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Practicing newly acquired skills in different contexts is considered a crucial aspect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders (Peris et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 56:1043-1052, 2017; Stewart et al. Prof Psychol Res Pract 47:303-311, 2016). Learning to cope with feared stimuli in different situations allows for generalization of learned skills, and experiencing non-occurrence of the feared outcome helps in developing non-catastrophic associations that may enhance treatment outcomes (Bandarian-Balooch et al. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 47:138-144, 2015; Cammin-Nowak et al. J Clin Psychol 69:616-629, 2013; Kendall et al. Cogn Behav Pract 12:136-148, 2005; Tiwari et al. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 42:34-43, 2013). To optimize treatment outcome, homework is often integrated into CBT protocols for childhood anxiety disorders during and following treatment. Nevertheless, practicing at home can be challenging, with low motivation, lack of time, and insufficient self-guidance often listed as reasons for low adherence (Tang and Kreindler, JMIR Mental Health 4:e20, 2017). This conceptual review provides an overview of (1) how existing CBT childhood programs incorporate homework, and empirical evidence for the importance of homework practice, (2) evidence-based key elements of practice, and (3) how mHealth apps could potentially enhance practice at home, including an example of the development and application of such an app. This review therefore sets the stage for new directions in developing more effective and engaging CBT-based homework programs for childhood anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke M Klein
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Annelieke Hagen
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lynn Mobach
- Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Pro Persona Institute for Integrated Mental Health Care, Wolfheze, The Netherlands
| | - Robin Zimmermann
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center (FBZ), Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Jasmin Rahemenia
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Silvia Schneider
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center (FBZ), Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas H Ollendick
- Department of Psychology, Child Study Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA
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24
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Marino CE, Rjabtsenkov P, Sharp C, Ali Z, Pineda E, Bavdekar S, Garg T, Jordan K, Halvorsen M, Aponte C, Blue J, Zhu X, Jimenez BS. Using Virtual Reality to Study Spatial Mapping and Threat Learning. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3891586. [PMID: 38645017 PMCID: PMC11030523 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3891586/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Using spatial mapping processes to learn about threat and safety in an environment is crucial for survival. Research using conditioning paradigms has explored the effects of state (transient arousal) and trait anxiety (anxiety as an aspect of personality) on threat learning and acquisition. However, results are mixed, and little is known regarding why some individuals do not learn to discriminate between threat and safety during contextual conditioning. We used a virtual reality (VR) contextual threat conditioning paradigm to elucidate the effects of state and trait anxiety on contextual threat learning. 70 healthy participants (46 female) navigated and "picked" flowers in a VR environment. Flowers picked in the dangerous zone (half of the environment) were paired with an electric shock (or "bee sting") to the hand; flowers picked in the safe zone were never paired with a shock. Participants also collected and returned neutral objects as a measure of spatial memory. Galvanic skin response (GSR) was measured throughout the task and anxiety was assessed via the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Participants were categorized as learners if they correctly identified the two zones after the task. Non-learners, compared to learners, performed significantly worse during the spatial memory task and demonstrated significantly higher state anxiety scores and GSR levels throughout the task. Learners showed higher skin conductance response (SCR) in the dangerous zone compared to the safe zone while non-learners showed no SCR differences between zones. These results indicate that state anxiety may impair spatial mapping, disrupting contextual threat learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Marino
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Pavel Rjabtsenkov
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Caitlin Sharp
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Zonia Ali
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Evelyn Pineda
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Shreya Bavdekar
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Tanya Garg
- Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Kendal Jordan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Mary Halvorsen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Carlos Aponte
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Julie Blue
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Xi Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Benjamin-Suarez Jimenez
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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25
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Wang Y, Olsson S, Lipp OV, Ney LJ. Renewal in human fear conditioning: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105606. [PMID: 38431150 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105606] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Renewal is a 'return of fear' manipulation in human fear conditioning to investigate learning processes underlying anxiety and trauma. Even though renewal paradigms are widely used, no study has compared the strength of different renewal paradigms. We conduct a systematic review (N = 80) and meta-analysis (N = 23) of human fear conditioning studies assessing renewal. Our analysis shows that the classic ABA design is the most effective paradigm, compared to ABC and ABBA designs. We present evidence that conducting extinction in multiple contexts and increasing the similarity between acquisition and extinction contexts reduce renewal. Furthermore, we show that additional cues can be used as safety and 'protection from extinction' cues. The review shows that alcohol weakens the extinction process and that older adults appear less sensitive to context changes and thus show less renewal. The large variability in approaches to study renewal in humans suggests that standardisation of fear conditioning procedures across laboratories would be of great benefit to the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
| | - Sarah Olsson
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Ottmar V Lipp
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Luke J Ney
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
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26
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Parmenter ME, Lederman S, Weathers FW, Davis LL, Vaughn B, Engels J, Sullivan GM. A phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bedtime sublingual cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatry Res 2024; 334:115764. [PMID: 38350291 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115764] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Sleep disturbances in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are a potential target for improving PTSD severity with pharmacotherapy. TNX-102 SL is a bedtime sublingual formulation of cyclobenzaprine with potent binding and antagonist activity at 5-HT2A, α1-adrenergic, H1 histaminergic, and M1 muscarinic receptors, which play roles in the pharmacological management of sleep disturbances. This Phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of TNX-102 SL in patients with military-related PTSD. Early and sustained improvements in sleep were associated with TNX-102 SL treatment by PROMIS Sleep Disturbance scale and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) "sleep disturbance" item, establishing a sleep quality benefit. Primary analysis comparing change from baseline in CAPS-5 total severity between TNX-102 SL and placebo at week 12 was not significant; however, week 4 was associated with an improvement. Secondary analyses showed TNX-102 SL treatment was associated with benefits on the Clinician Global Impression of Improvement at week 4 and the Patient Global Impression of Change at week 12. Time since trauma exposure was a discriminator of CAPS-5 treatment response in the subgroup ≤ 9 years since the index event. This study provides preliminary evidence that TNX-102 SL is well-tolerated and may promote recovery from PTSD by addressing sleep-related symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Parmenter
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Seth Lederman
- Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chatham, NJ, United States
| | - Frank W Weathers
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lori L Davis
- Research Service, Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL
| | | | - Jean Engels
- Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chatham, NJ, United States
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27
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Knox D, Parikh V. Basal forebrain cholinergic systems as circuits through which traumatic stress disrupts emotional memory regulation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105569. [PMID: 38309497 PMCID: PMC10948307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Contextual and spatial systems facilitate changes in emotional memory regulation brought on by traumatic stress. Cholinergic basal forebrain (chBF) neurons provide input to contextual/spatial systems and although chBF neurons are important for emotional memory, it is unknown how they contribute to the traumatic stress effects on emotional memory. Clusters of chBF neurons that project to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) modulate fear conditioned suppression and passive avoidance, while clusters of chBF neurons that project to the hippocampus (Hipp) and PFC (i.e. cholinergic medial septum and diagonal bands of Broca (chMS/DBB neurons) are critical for fear extinction. Interestingly, neither Hipp nor PFC projecting chMS/DBB neurons are critical for fear extinction. The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is a contextual/spatial memory system that receives input from chMS/DBB neurons, but whether this chMS/DBB-RSC circuit facilitates traumatic stress effects on emotional memory remain unexplored. Traumatic stress leads to neuroinflammation and the buildup of reactive oxygen species. These two molecular processes may converge to disrupt chBF circuits enhancing the impact of traumatic stress on emotional memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayan Knox
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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28
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Stevens L, Bregulla M, Scheele D. Out of touch? How trauma shapes the experience of social touch - Neural and endocrine pathways. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105595. [PMID: 38373642 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Trauma can shape the way an individual experiences the world and interacts with other people. Touch is a key component of social interactions, but surprisingly little is known about how trauma exposure influences the processing of social touch. In this review, we examine possible neurobiological pathways through which trauma can influence touch processing and lead to touch aversion and avoidance in trauma-exposed individuals. Emerging evidence indicates that trauma may affect sensory touch thresholds by modulating activity in the primary sensory cortex and posterior insula. Disturbances in multisensory integration and oxytocin reactivity combined with diminished reward-related and anxiolytic responses may induce a bias towards negative appraisal of touch contexts. Furthermore, hippocampus deactivation during social touch may reflect a dissociative state. These changes depend not only on the type and severity of the trauma but also on the features of the touch. We hypothesise that disrupted touch processing may impair social interactions and confer elevated risk for future stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Stevens
- Social Neuroscience, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Madeleine Bregulla
- Social Neuroscience, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Dirk Scheele
- Social Neuroscience, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
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29
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Navarro-Sánchez M, Gil-Miravet I, Montero-Caballero D, Castillo-Gómez E, Gundlach AL, Olucha-Bordonau FE. Some key parameters in contextual fear conditioning and extinction in adult rats. Behav Brain Res 2024; 462:114874. [PMID: 38266780 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Contextual fear conditioning is a behavioral paradigm used to assess hippocampal-dependent memory in experimental animals. Perception of the context depends on activation of a distinct population of neurons in the hippocampus and in hippocampal-related areas that process discrete aspects of context perception. In the absence of any putatively associated cue, the context becomes the salient element that may warn of an upcoming aversive event; and in particular conditions, animals generalize this warning to any new or similar context. In this study we evaluated the effects of the number of sessions, the number of unconditioned stimuli per acquisition session and the distribution of extinction sessions to assess fear acquisition and extinction and determine under which conditions generalization occurred in adult, male rats. We observed that the organization and spacing of sessions were relevant factors in the acquisition and extinction of contextual fear memories. Extinction occurred with significantly greater robustness when sessions were spread over two days. Furthermore, results indicated that exposure to a single 0.3 mA, 0.5 s footshock in two different sessions could produce context-specific fear, while more acquisition sessions or more footshocks within a single session produced a generalization of the fear response to a new context. Notably, when generalization occurred, successive re-exposure to the generalized context produced extinction in a similar way to the paired exposure. Together, the present findings identify clear procedural and behavioral parameters amenable to neural systems analysis of three clinically relevant outcomes of contextual fear conditioning, i.e., memory acquisition, storage and extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Navarro-Sánchez
- Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facutat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Isis Gil-Miravet
- Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facutat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Daniel Montero-Caballero
- Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facutat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Esther Castillo-Gómez
- Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facutat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain; Spanish Stress Research Network, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Valencia, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Francisco E Olucha-Bordonau
- Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Facutat de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain; Spanish Stress Research Network, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Valencia, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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30
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Borst B, Jovanovic T, House SL, Bruce SE, Harnett NG, Roeckner AR, Ely TD, Lebois LAM, Young D, Beaudoin FL, An X, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Bollen KA, Rauch SL, Haran JP, Storrow AB, Lewandowski C, Musey PI, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Seamon MJ, Datner EM, Pearson C, Peak DA, Domeier RM, Rathlev NK, O'Neil BJ, Sergot P, Sanchez LD, Harte SE, Koenen KC, Kessler RC, McLean SA, Ressler KJ, Stevens JS, van Rooij SJH. Sex Differences in Response Inhibition-Related Neural Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Civilians With Recent Trauma. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024:S2451-9022(24)00080-6. [PMID: 38522649 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Females are more likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than males. Impaired inhibition has been identified as a mechanism for PTSD development, but studies on potential sex differences in this neurobiological mechanism and how it relates to PTSD severity and progression are relatively rare. Here, we examined sex differences in neural activation during response inhibition and PTSD following recent trauma. METHODS Participants (n = 205, 138 female sex assigned at birth) were recruited from emergency departments within 72 hours of a traumatic event. PTSD symptoms were assessed 2 weeks and 6 months posttrauma. A Go/NoGo task was performed 2 weeks posttrauma in a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner to measure neural activity during response inhibition in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, right inferior frontal gyrus, and bilateral hippocampus. General linear models were used to examine the interaction effect of sex on the relationship between our regions of interest and the whole brain, PTSD symptoms at 6 months, and symptom progression between 2 weeks and 6 months. RESULTS Lower response inhibition-related ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation 2 weeks posttrauma predicted more PTSD symptoms at 6 months in females but not in males, while greater response inhibition-related right inferior frontal gyrus activation predicted lower PTSD symptom progression in males but not females. Whole-brain interaction effects were observed in the medial temporal gyrus and left precentral gyrus. CONCLUSIONS There are sex differences in the relationship between inhibition-related brain activation and PTSD symptom severity and progression. These findings suggest that sex differences should be assessed in future PTSD studies and reveal potential targets for sex-specific interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibian Borst
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Stacey L House
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Steven E Bruce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alyssa R Roeckner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dmitri Young
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Francesca L Beaudoin
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Rehabilitation International, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Emergency Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Xinming An
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Gari D Clifford
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Laura T Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Many Brains Project, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Kenneth A Bollen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience & Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Scott L Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - John P Haran
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Alan B Storrow
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - Paul I Musey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Phyllis L Hendry
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Sophia Sheikh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Christopher W Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey
| | - Brittany E Punches
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio; Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Lauren A Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jose L Pascual
- Department of Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark J Seamon
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Surgery, Division of Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Elizabeth M Datner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson Einstein Hospital, Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Claire Pearson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - David A Peak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert M Domeier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Trinity Health, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Michigan
| | - Niels K Rathlev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts
| | - Brian J O'Neil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Paulina Sergot
- Department of Emergency Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas
| | - Leon D Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steven E Harte
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Internal Medicine-Rheumatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
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31
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Oleksiak CR, Plas SL, Carriaga D, Vasudevan K, Maren S, Moscarello JM. Ventral hippocampus mediates inter-trial responding in signaled active avoidance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585627. [PMID: 38562746 PMCID: PMC10983994 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus has a central role in regulating contextual processes in memory. We have shown that pharmacological inactivation of ventral hippocampus (VH) attenuates the context-dependence of signaled active avoidance (SAA) in rats. Here, we explore whether the VH mediates intertrial responses (ITRs), which are putative unreinforced avoidance responses that occur between trials. First, we examined whether VH inactivation would affect ITRs. Male rats underwent SAA training and subsequently received intra-VH infusions of saline or muscimol before retrieval tests in the training context. Rats that received muscimol performed significantly fewer ITRs, but equivalent avoidance responses, compared to controls. Next, we asked whether chemogenetic VH activation would increase ITR vigor. In male and female rats expressing excitatory (hM3Dq) DREADDs, systemic CNO administration produced a robust ITR increase that was not due to nonspecific locomotor effects. Then, we examined whether chemogenetic VH activation potentiated ITRs in an alternate (non-training) test context and found it did. Finally, to determine if context-US associations mediate ITRs, we exposed rats to the training context for three days after SAA training to extinguish the context. Rats submitted to context extinction did not show a reliable decrease in ITRs during a retrieval test, suggesting that context-US associations are not responsible for ITRs. Collectively, these results reveal an important role for the VH in context-dependent ITRs during SAA. Further work is required to explore the neural circuits and associative basis for these responses, which may be underlie pathological avoidance that occurs in humans after threat has passed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecily R. Oleksiak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
| | - Samantha L. Plas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
| | - Denise Carriaga
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, TX 78539
| | - Krithika Vasudevan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
| | - Justin M. Moscarello
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845
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Martínez-Rivera FJ, Holt LM, Minier-Toribio A, Estill M, Yeh SY, Tofani S, Futamura R, Browne CJ, Mews P, Shen L, Nestler EJ. Transcriptional characterization of cocaine withdrawal versus extinction within nucleus accumbens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.12.584637. [PMID: 38559084 PMCID: PMC10980003 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.12.584637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Substance use disorder is characterized by a maladaptive imbalance wherein drug seeking persists despite negative consequences or drug unavailability. This imbalance correlates with neurobiological alterations some of which are amplified during forced abstinence, thereby compromising the capacity of extinction-based approaches to prevent relapse. Cocaine use disorder (CUD) exemplifies this phenomenon in which neurobiological modifications hijack brain reward regions such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc) to manifest craving and withdrawal-like symptoms. While increasing evidence links transcriptional changes in the NAc to specific phases of addiction, genome-wide changes in gene expression during withdrawal vs. extinction (WD/Ext) have not been examined in a context- and NAc-subregion-specific manner. Here, we used cocaine self-administration (SA) in rats combined with RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of NAc subregions (core and shell) to transcriptionally profile the impact of experiencing withdrawal in the home cage or in the previous drug context or experiencing extinction training. As expected, home-cage withdrawal maintained drug seeking in the previous drug context, whereas extinction training reduced it. By contrast, withdrawal involving repetitive exposure to the previous drug context increased drug-seeking behavior. Bioinformatic analyses of RNA-seq data revealed gene expression patterns, networks, motifs, and biological functions specific to these behavioral conditions and NAc subregions. Comparing transcriptomic analysis of the NAc of patients with CUD highlighted conserved gene signatures, especially with rats that were repetitively exposed to the previous drug context. Collectively, these behavioral and transcriptional correlates of several withdrawal-extinction settings reveal fundamental and translational information about potential molecular mechanisms to attenuate drug-associated memories.
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Wen Z, Pace-Schott EF, Lazar SW, Rosén J, Åhs F, Phelps EA, LeDoux JE, Milad MR. Distributed neural representations of conditioned threat in the human brain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2231. [PMID: 38472184 PMCID: PMC10933283 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46508-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting and responding to threat engages several neural nodes including the amygdala, hippocampus, insular cortex, and medial prefrontal cortices. Recent propositions call for the integration of more distributed neural nodes that process sensory and cognitive facets related to threat. Integrative, sensitive, and reproducible distributed neural decoders for the detection and response to threat and safety have yet to be established. We combine functional MRI data across varying threat conditioning and negative affect paradigms from 1465 participants with multivariate pattern analysis to investigate distributed neural representations of threat and safety. The trained decoders sensitively and specifically distinguish between threat and safety cues across multiple datasets. We further show that many neural nodes dynamically shift representations between threat and safety. Our results establish reproducible decoders that integrate neural circuits, merging the well-characterized 'threat circuit' with sensory and cognitive nodes, discriminating threat from safety regardless of experimental designs or data acquisition parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenfu Wen
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Edward F Pace-Schott
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sara W Lazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jörgen Rosén
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Åhs
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | | | - Joseph E LeDoux
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science and Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- The Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
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Dirven BCJ, van Melis L, Daneva T, Dillen L, Homberg JR, Kozicz T, Henckens MJAG. Hippocampal Trauma Memory Processing Conveying Susceptibility to Traumatic Stress. Neuroscience 2024; 540:87-102. [PMID: 38220126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.007] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
While the majority of the population is ever exposed to a traumatic event during their lifetime, only a fraction develops posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Disrupted trauma memory processing has been proposed as a core factor underlying PTSD symptomatology. We used transgenic Targeted-Recombination-in-Active-Populations (TRAP) mice to investigate potential alterations in trauma-related hippocampal memory engrams associated with the development of PTSD-like symptomatology. Mice were exposed to a stress-enhanced fear learning paradigm, in which prior exposure to a stressor affects the learning of a subsequent fearful event (contextual fear conditioning using foot shocks), during which neuronal activity was labeled. One week later, mice were behaviorally phenotyped to identify mice resilient and susceptible to developing PTSD-like symptomatology. Three weeks post-learning, mice were re-exposed to the conditioning context to induce remote fear memory recall, and associated hippocampal neuronal activity was assessed. While no differences in the size of the hippocampal neuronal ensemble activated during fear learning were observed between groups, susceptible mice displayed a smaller ensemble activated upon remote fear memory recall in the ventral CA1, higher regional hippocampal parvalbuminneuronal density and a relatively lower activity of parvalbumininterneurons upon recall. Investigation of potential epigenetic regulators of the engram revealed rather generic (rather than engram-specific) differences between groups, with susceptible mice displaying lower hippocampal histone deacetylase 2 expression, and higher methylation and hydroxymethylation levels. These finding implicate variation in epigenetic regulation within the hippocampus, as well as reduced regional hippocampal activity during remote fear memory recall in interindividual differences in susceptibility to traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart C J Dirven
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lennart van Melis
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Teya Daneva
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Dillen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Center for Individualized Medicine, Department of Clinical Genomics, and Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; University of Pecs Medical School, Department of Anatomy, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Lanjewar AL, Levitt P, Eagleson KL. Developmental and molecular contributions to contextual fear memory emergence in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01835-0. [PMID: 38438594 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01835-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a common phenotype of neurodevelopmental disorders, but how these deficits arise remains elusive. Determining the onset of discrete cognitive capabilities facilitates studies in probing mechanisms underlying their emergence. The present study analyzed the emergence of contextual fear memory persistence (7-day memory retention) and remote memory (30-day memory retention). There was a rapid transition from postnatal day (P) 20 to P21, in which memory persistence emerged in C57Bl/6 J male and female mice. Remote memory was present at P23, but expression was not robust compared to pubertal and adult mice. Previous studies reported that following deletion of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase (MET), there are fear memory deficits in adult mice and the timing of critical period plasticity is altered in the developing visual cortex, positioning MET as a regulator for onset of contextual fear memory. Sustaining Met past the normal window of peak cortical expression or deleting Met, however, did not alter the timing of emergence of persistence or remote memory capabilities during development. Fear memory in young adults, however, was disrupted. Remarkably, compared to homecage controls, the number of FOS-expressing infragranular neurons in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) did not increase from contextual memory formation recall of fear conditioning at P35 but exhibited enhanced activation at P90 in male and female mice. Additionally, MET-expressing neurons were preferentially recruited at P90 compared to P35 during fear memory expression. The studies demonstrate a developmental profile of contextual fear memory capabilities. Further, developmental disruption of Met leads to a delayed functional deficit that arises in young adulthood, correlated with an increase of mPFC neuron activation during fear memory recall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Lanjewar
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Pat Levitt
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kathie L Eagleson
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Lee Y, Kim S, Cho YK, Kong C, Chang JW, Jun SB. Amygdala electrical stimulation for operant conditioning in rat navigation. Biomed Eng Lett 2024; 14:291-306. [PMID: 38374898 PMCID: PMC10874353 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-023-00336-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
There have been several attempts to navigate the locomotion of animals by neuromodulation. The most common method is animal training with electrical brain stimulation for directional cues and rewards; the basic principle is to activate dopamine-mediated neural reward pathways such as the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) when the animal correctly follows the external commands. In this study, the amygdala, which is the brain region responsible for fear modulation, was targeted for punishment training. The brain regions of MFB, amygdala, and barrel cortex were electrically stimulated for reward, punishment, and directional cues, respectively. Electrical stimulation was applied to the amygdala of rats when they failed to follow directional commands. First, two different amygdala regions, i.e., basolateral amygdala (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA), were stimulated and compared in terms of behavior responses, success and correction rates for training, and gene expression for learning and memory. Then, the training was performed in three groups: group R (MFB stimulation for reward), group P (BLA stimulation for punishment), and group RP (both MFB and BLA stimulation for reward and punishment). In group P, after the training, RNA sequencing was conducted to detect gene expression and demonstrate the effect of punishment learning. Group P showed higher success rates than group R, and group RP exhibited the most effective locomotion control among the three groups. Gene expression results imply that BLA stimulation can be more effective as a punishment in the learning process than CeA stimulation. We developed a new method to navigate rat locomotion behaviors by applying amygdala stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjin Lee
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in Smart Factory, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
| | - Soonyoung Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 USA
| | - Yoon Kyung Cho
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
| | - Chanho Kong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722 Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science and Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Beom Jun
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in Smart Factory, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
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Leibovitz SE, Sevinc G, Greenberg J, Hölzel B, Gard T, Calahan T, Vangel M, Orr SP, Milad MR, Lazar SW. Mindfulness training and exercise differentially impact fear extinction neurocircuitry. Psychol Med 2024; 54:835-846. [PMID: 37655520 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002593] [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] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to extinguish a maladaptive conditioned fear response is crucial for healthy emotional processing and resiliency to aversive experiences. Therefore, enhancing fear extinction learning has immense potential emotional and health benefits. Mindfulness training enhances both fear conditioning and recall of extinguished fear; however, its effects on fear extinction learning are unknown. Here we investigated the impact of mindfulness training on brain mechanisms associated with fear-extinction learning, compared to an exercise-based program. METHODS We investigated BOLD activations in response to a previously learned fear-inducing cue during an extinction paradigm, before and after an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR, n = 49) or exercise-based stress management education program (n = 27). RESULTS The groups exhibited similar reductions in stress, but the MBSR group was uniquely associated with enhanced activation of salience network nodes and increased hippocampal engagement. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that mindfulness training increases attention to anticipatory aversive stimuli, which in turn facilitates decreased aversive subjective responses and enhanced reappraisal of the memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaked E Leibovitz
- College of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Gunes Sevinc
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan Greenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Britta Hölzel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Tim Gard
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Thomas Calahan
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mark Vangel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Scott P Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Psychiatry Department, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Sara W Lazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Lee J, Kim YE, Lim J, Jo Y, Lee HJ, Jo YS, Choi JS. Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation in the infralimbic cortex facilitates extinction of conditioned fear in rats. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:405-412. [PMID: 38537689 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.03.013] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) neuromodulation emerges as a promising non-invasive approach for improving neurological conditions. Extinction of conditioned fear has served as a prime model for exposure-based therapies for anxiety disorders. We investigated whether tFUS stimulation to a critical brain area, the infralimbic subdivision of the prefrontal cortex (IL), could facilitate fear extinction using rats. In a series of experiments, tFUS was delivered to the IL of a freely-moving rat and compared to sham stimulation (tFUS vs. SHAM). Initially, Fos expression in the IL was measured shortly after the stimulation. The results show that Fos expression was significantly increased in the IL but not in the neighboring regions compared to SHAM. Subsequently, two groups of rats were subjected to fear conditioning, extinction, and retention while receiving stimulation during the extinction. Rats in the tFUS group froze significantly less than SHAM during both extinction and retention tests. Importantly, the reduced freezing in the tFUS group was not attributable to non-specific effect such as auditory noise, as both groups demonstrated a similar level of locomotive activity in an open field regardless of the stimulation condition. Finally, we replicated the procedure with a shortened conditioning-to-extinction interval (15 min) to induce immediate extinction deficit. The tFUS group showed a facilitated reduction in freezing during the extinction, which persisted in the subsequent retention session compared to SHAM. In summary, the current findings suggest that tFUS stimulation in the IL facilitates fear extinction, offering a potential therapeutic regimen for fear-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyong Lee
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Eun Kim
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihong Lim
- School of Electrical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yehhyun Jo
- School of Electrical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjoo Jenny Lee
- School of Electrical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Sang Jo
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - June-Seek Choi
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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Naffaa MM. Significance of the anterior cingulate cortex in neurogenesis plasticity: Connections, functions, and disorders across postnatal and adult stages. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300160. [PMID: 38135889 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a complex and continually evolving brain region that remains a primary focus of research due to its multifaceted functions. Various studies and analyses have significantly advanced our understanding of how the ACC participates in a wide spectrum of memory and cognitive processes. However, despite its strong connections to brain areas associated with hippocampal and olfactory neurogenesis, the functions of the ACC in regulating postnatal and adult neurogenesis in these regions are still insufficiently explored. Investigating the intricate involvement of the ACC in neurogenesis could enhance our comprehension of essential aspects of brain plasticity. This involvement stems from its complex circuitry with other relevant brain regions, thereby exerting both direct and indirect impacts on the neurogenesis process. This review sheds light on the promising significance of the ACC in orchestrating postnatal and adult neurogenesis in conditions related to memory, cognitive behavior, and associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moawiah M Naffaa
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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40
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Teng Y, Niu J, Liu Y, Wang H, Chen J, Kong Y, Wang L, Lian B, Wang W, Sun H, Yue K. Ketamine alleviates fear memory and spatial cognition deficits in a PTSD rat model via the BDNF signaling pathway of the hippocampus and amygdala. Behav Brain Res 2024; 459:114792. [PMID: 38048914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114792] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with traumatic stress experiences. This condition can be accompanied by learning and cognitive deficits. Studies have demonstrated that ketamine can rapidly and significantly alleviate symptoms in patients with chronic PTSD. Nonetheless, the effects of ketamine on neurocognitive impairment and its mechanism of action in PTSD remain unclear. METHODS In this study, different concentrations of ketamine (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated in rat models of single prolonged stress and electrophonic shock (SPS&S). Expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and post-synaptic density-95 (PSD-95) in the hippocampus (HIP) and amygdala (AMG) were determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The data showed that rats subjected to SPS&S exhibited significant PTSD-like cognitive impairment. The effect of ketamine on SPS&S-induced neurocognitive function showed a U-shaped dose effect in rats. A single administration of ketamine at a dosage of 10-15 mg/kg resulted in significant changes in behavioral outcomes. These manifestations of improvement in cognitive function and molecular changes were reversed at high doses (15-20 mg/kg). CONCLUSION Overall, ketamine reversed SPS&S-induced fear and spatial memory impairment and the down-regulation of BDNF and BDNF-related PSD-95 signaling in the HIP and AMG. A dose equal to 15 mg/kg rapidly reversed the behavioral and molecular changes and promoted the amelioration of cognitive dysfunction. The enhanced association of BDNF signaling with PSD-95 effects could be involved in the therapeutic efficiency of ketamine for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Teng
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - JiaYao Niu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Han Wang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - JinHong Chen
- School of Continuing Education, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - YuJia Kong
- School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Ling Wang
- Clinical Competency Training Center, Medical experiment and training center, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Bo Lian
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - WeiWen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China
| | - HongWei Sun
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China.
| | - KuiTao Yue
- The Medical imaging Center, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, 2428# Yuhe Road, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China.
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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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42
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Yu T, Zou Y, Nie H, Li Y, Chen J, Du Y, Peng H, Luo Q. The role of the thalamic subregions in major depressive disorder with childhood maltreatment: Evidences from dynamic and static functional connectivity. J Affect Disord 2024; 347:237-248. [PMID: 38000476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.074] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) with a history of childhood maltreatment represents a highly prevalent clinical phenotype. Previous studies have demonstrated functional alterations of the thalamus among MDD. However, no study has investigated the static and dynamic changes in functional connectivity (FC) within thalamic subregions among MDD with childhood maltreatment. METHODS This study included four groups: MDD with childhood maltreatment (n = 48), MDD without childhood maltreatment (n = 30), healthy controls with childhood maltreatment (n = 57), and healthy controls without childhood maltreatment (n = 46). Sixteen thalamic subregions were selected as seed to investigate group-differences in dynamic FC (dFC) and static FC (sFC). Correlation analyses were performed to assess the associations between abnormal FC and maltreatment severity. Eventually, moderation analyses were employed to explore the moderating role of abnormal FC in the relationship between maltreatment and depressive severity. RESULTS MDD with childhood maltreatment exhibit abnormal thalamic subregions FC compared to MDD without childhood maltreatment, characterized by abnormalities with the sFC of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, with the dFC of the calcarine, middle cingulate cortex, precuneus cortex and superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, sFC with the rostral anterior cingulate cortex and dFC with the middle cingulate cortex were correlated with the severity of maltreatment. Additionally, dFC with the superior temporal gyrus moderates the relationship between maltreatment and depression severity. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional designs fail to infer causality. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support thalamic dysfunction as neurobiological features of childhood maltreatment as well as vulnerability to MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Yu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China; Department of Psychiatry, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Yurong Zou
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China
| | - Huiqin Nie
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Publicity and Health Education, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Juran Chen
- The Zhongshan Torch Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Community Health Service, Zhongshan 528437, China
| | - Yingying Du
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China
| | - Hongjun Peng
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou 510370, China.
| | - Qianyi Luo
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou 510370, China.
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Weiss F, Schwarz K, Endrass T. Exploring the relationship between context and obsessions in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms: a narrative review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1353962. [PMID: 38419899 PMCID: PMC10899460 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1353962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have long been proposed to differ from intrusive thoughts in unaffected individuals based on appraisal of the thoughts. However, more recent research indicates that cognitive processes behind obsessions may differ significantly from those in healthy individuals concerning their contextual relationship. This narrative literature review summarizes current evidence for the role of context-relatedness for obsessions in OCD and intrusive thoughts in affected and unaffected individuals. The review encompasses a total of five studies, two of which include individuals diagnosed with OCD (one study also includes a group of unaffected control individuals), while the other three studies investigate the relationship between OCD symptoms and context in unaffected individuals. As assessed by mainly self-reports, the review examines the connection between thoughts and their context, shedding light on how the repetition and automaticity of thoughts, as well as their detachment from context over time contribute to defining obsessions in contrast to intrusive thoughts. However, the link with context depends on the content of the obsessions. We propose the term "decontextualization of thoughts" to describe the phenomenon that obsessions gradually lose their connection with external context during the development of OCD. Future research should investigate whether this hypothesis can be supported by experimental evidence and identify whether this shift might be more likely a cause or a consequence of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Weiss
- Chair of Addiction Research, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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44
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Lanjewar AL, Levitt P, Eagleson KL. Developmental and molecular contributions to contextual fear memory emergence in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.03.527024. [PMID: 36778231 PMCID: PMC9915741 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.03.527024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a common phenotype of neurodevelopmental disorders, but how these deficits arise remains elusive. Determining the onset of discrete cognitive capabilities facilitates studies in probing mechanisms underlying their emergence. The present study analyzed the emergence of contextual fear memory persistence (7-day memory retention) and remote memory (30-day memory retention). There was a rapid transition from postnatal day (P) 20 to P21, in which memory persistence emerged in C57Bl/6J male and female mice. Remote memory was present at P23, but expression was not robust compared to pubertal and adult mice. Previous studies reported that following deletion of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase (MET), there are fear memory deficits in adult mice and the timing of critical period plasticity is altered in the developing visual cortex, positioning MET as a regulator for onset of contextual fear memory. Sustaining Met past the normal window of peak cortical expression or deleting Met, however, did not alter the timing of emergence of persistence or remote memory capabilities during development. Fear memory in young adults, however, was disrupted. Remarkably, compared to homecage controls, the number of FOS-expressing infragranular neurons in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) did not increase from contextual memory formation recall of fear conditioning at P35 but exhibited enhanced activation at P90 in male and female mice. Additionally, MET-expressing neurons were preferentially recruited at P90 compared to P35 during fear memory expression. The studies demonstrate a developmental profile of contextual fear memory capabilities. Further, developmental disruption of Met leads to a delayed functional deficit that arises in young adulthood, correlated with an increase of mPFC neuron activation during fear memory recall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Lanjewar
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Pat Levitt
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kathie L. Eagleson
- Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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45
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Grella SL, Donaldson TN. Contextual memory engrams, and the neuromodulatory influence of the locus coeruleus. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1342622. [PMID: 38375501 PMCID: PMC10875109 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1342622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, we review the basis of contextual memory at a conceptual and cellular level. We begin with an overview of the philosophical foundations of traversing space, followed by theories covering the material bases of contextual representations in the hippocampus (engrams), exploring functional characteristics of the cells and subfields within. Next, we explore various methodological approaches for investigating contextual memory engrams, emphasizing plasticity mechanisms. This leads us to discuss the role of neuromodulatory inputs in governing these dynamic changes. We then outline a recent hypothesis involving noradrenergic and dopaminergic projections from the locus coeruleus (LC) to different subregions of the hippocampus, in sculpting contextual representations, giving a brief description of the neuroanatomical and physiological properties of the LC. Finally, we examine how activity in the LC influences contextual memory processes through synaptic plasticity mechanisms to alter hippocampal engrams. Overall, we find that phasic activation of the LC plays an important role in promoting new learning and altering mnemonic processes at the behavioral and cellular level through the neuromodulatory influence of NE/DA in the hippocampus. These findings may provide insight into mechanisms of hippocampal remapping and memory updating, memory processes that are potentially dysregulated in certain psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Grella
- MNEME Lab, Department of Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Tia N. Donaldson
- Systems Neuroscience and Behavior Lab, Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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46
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Ikeda H, Yamagishi A, Yonemochi N, Yamamoto S, Shimizu T, Muto A, Waddington JL, Kamei J. Keratinocyte-Derived Cytokine in the Hippocampus Disrupts Extinction of Conditioned Fear Memory in Tumor-Bearing Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-03992-1. [PMID: 38308664 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03992-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
While patients with cancer show a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders than the general population, the mechanism underlying this interaction remains unclear. The present study examined whether tumor-bearing (TB) mice show psychological changes using the conditioned fear paradigm and the role of cytokines in these changes. TB mice were established by transplantation with mouse osteosarcoma AXT cells. These TB mice were then found to exhibit disruption in extinction of conditioned fear memory. Eighteen cytokines in serum were increased in TB mice, among which i.c.v. injection of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 strengthened fear memory in normal mice. Contents of IL-17 and keratinocyte-derived cytokine (KC) in the amygdala and KC in the hippocampus were increased in TB mice. KC mRNA in both the amygdala and hippocampus was also increased in TB mice, and i.c.v. injection of KC dose-dependently strengthened fear memory in normal mice. In addition, injection of IL-1β, but not IL-6, increased KC mRNA in the amygdala and hippocampus. In TB mice KC mRNA was increased in both astrocytes and microglia of the amygdala and hippocampus. The microglia inhibitor minocycline, but not the astrocyte inhibitor fluorocitrate, alleviated disruption in extinction of conditioned fear memory in TB mice. Microinjection of KC into the hippocampus, but not into the amygdala, increased fear memory in normal mice. These findings indicate that TB mice show an increase in serum cytokines, including IL-1β, that increases KC production in microglia of the hippocampus, which then disrupts extinction of fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Ikeda
- Department of Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan.
| | - Aimi Yamagishi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Naomi Yonemochi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Shogo Yamamoto
- Department of Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Takatsune Shimizu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Akihiro Muto
- Department of Pathophysiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - John L Waddington
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 111 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Junzo Kamei
- Department of Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
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47
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Plas SL, Tuna T, Bayer H, Juliano VAL, Sweck SO, Arellano Perez AD, Hassell JE, Maren S. Neural circuits for the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memory. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1352797. [PMID: 38370858 PMCID: PMC10869525 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1352797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The regulation of fear memories is critical for adaptive behaviors and dysregulation of these processes is implicated in trauma- and stress-related disorders. Treatments for these disorders include pharmacological interventions as well as exposure-based therapies, which rely upon extinction learning. Considerable attention has been directed toward elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying fear and extinction learning. In this review, we will discuss historic discoveries and emerging evidence on the neural mechanisms of the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memories. We will focus on neural circuits regulating the acquisition and extinction of Pavlovian fear conditioning in rodent models, particularly the role of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the contextual control of extinguished fear memories. We will also consider new work revealing an important role for the thalamic nucleus reuniens in the modulation of prefrontal-hippocampal interactions in extinction learning and memory. Finally, we will explore the effects of stress on this circuit and the clinical implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Plas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Tuğçe Tuna
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Hugo Bayer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Vitor A. L. Juliano
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Samantha O. Sweck
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Angel D. Arellano Perez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - James E. Hassell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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48
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Norred MA, Zuschlag ZD, Hamner MB. A Neuroanatomic and Pathophysiologic Framework for Novel Pharmacological Approaches to the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Drugs 2024; 84:149-164. [PMID: 38413493 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01983-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder inflicting high degrees of symptomatic and socioeconomic burdens. The development of PTSD results from a cascade of events with contributions from multiple processes and the underlying pathophysiology is complex, involving neurotransmitters, neurocircuitry, and neuroanatomical pathways. Presently, only two medications are US FDA-approved for the treatment of PTSD, both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, the complex underlying pathophysiology suggests a number of alternative pathways and mechanisms that may be targets for potential drug development. Indeed, investigations and drug development are proceeding in a number of these alternative, non-serotonergic pathways in an effort to improve the management of PTSD. In this manuscript, the authors introduce novel and emerging treatments for PTSD, including drugs in various stages of development and clinical testing (BI 1358894, BNC-210, PRAX-114, JZP-150, LU AG06466, NYV-783, PH-94B, SRX246, TNX-102), established agents and known compounds being investigated for their utility in PTSD (brexpiprazole, cannabidiol, doxasoin, ganaxolone, intranasal neuropeptide Y, intranasal oxytocin, tianeptine oxalate, verucerfont), and emerging psychedelic interventions (ketamine, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy), with an aim to examine and integrate these agents into the underlying pathophysiological frameworks of trauma-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Norred
- Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zachary D Zuschlag
- Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Mark B Hamner
- Behavioral Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, SC, 29401, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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Fricke S, Seinsche RJ, Neudert MK, Schäfer A, Zehtner RI, Stark R, Hermann A. Neural correlates of context-dependent extinction recall in social anxiety disorder: relevance of intrusions in response to aversive social experiences. Psychol Med 2024; 54:548-557. [PMID: 37553977 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are phenomenological similarities between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and posttraumatic stress disorder, such as a provoking aversive event, posttraumatic stress symptoms (e.g. intrusions) in response to these events and deficient (context-dependent) fear conditioning processes. This study investigated the neural correlates of context-dependent extinction recall and fear renewal in SAD, specifically in patients with intrusions in response to an etiologically relevant aversive social event. METHODS During functional magnetic resonance imaging a two-day context-dependent fear conditioning paradigm was conducted in 54 patients with SAD and 54 healthy controls (HC). This included fear acquisition (context A) and extinction learning (context B) on one day, and extinction recall (context B) as well as fear renewal (contexts C and A) one day later. The main outcome measures were blood oxygen level-dependent responses in regions of interest and skin conductance responses. RESULTS Patients with SAD showed reduced differential conditioned amygdala activation during extinction recall in the safe extinction context and during fear renewal in the acquisition context compared to HC. Patients with clinically relevant intrusions moreover exhibited hypoactivation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) during extinction learning, extinction recall, and fear renewal in a novel context, while amygdala activation more strongly decreased during extinction learning and increased during fear renewal in the acquisition context compared with patients without intrusions. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides first evidence that intrusions in SAD are associated with similar deficits in context-dependent regulation of conditioned fear via the vmPFC as previously demonstrated in posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Fricke
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rosa J Seinsche
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marie K Neudert
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Axel Schäfer
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Phillips University Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Raphaela I Zehtner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Phillips University Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andrea Hermann
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Phillips University Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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50
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Zhang R, Liu S, Mousavi SM. Cognitive Dysfunction and Exercise: From Epigenetic to Genetic Molecular Mechanisms. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-03970-7. [PMID: 38286967 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03970-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining good health is crucial, and exercise plays a vital role in achieving this goal. It offers a range of positive benefits for cognitive function, regardless of age. However, as our population ages and life expectancy increases, cognitive impairment has become a prevalent issue, often coexisting with age-related neurodegenerative conditions. This can result in devastating consequences such as memory loss, difficulty speaking, and confusion, greatly hindering one's ability to lead an ordinary life. In addition, the decrease in mental capacity has a significant effect on an individual's physical and emotional well-being, greatly reducing their overall level of contentment and causing a significant financial burden for communities. While most current approaches aim to slow the decline of cognition, exercise offers a non-pharmacological, safe, and accessible solution. Its effects on cognition are intricate and involve changes in the brain's neural plasticity, mitochondrial stability, and energy metabolism. Moreover, exercise triggers the release of cytokines, playing a significant role in the body-brain connection and its impact on cognition. Additionally, exercise can influence gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, leading to lasting improvements in brain function and behavior. Herein, we summarized various genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that can be modulated by exercise in cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runhong Zhang
- Department of Physical Education, Luliang University, Lishi, 033000, Shanxi, China.
| | - Shangwu Liu
- Department of Physical Education, Luliang University, Lishi, 033000, Shanxi, China
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