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Park S, Huh Y, Kim JJ, Cho J. Bidirectional fear modulation by discrete anterior insular circuits in male mice. eLife 2024; 13:RP95821. [PMID: 39088250 PMCID: PMC11293866 DOI: 10.7554/elife.95821] [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] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The brain's ability to appraise threats and execute appropriate defensive responses is essential for survival in a dynamic environment. Humans studies have implicated the anterior insular cortex (aIC) in subjective fear regulation and its abnormal activity in fear/anxiety disorders. However, the complex aIC connectivity patterns involved in regulating fear remain under investigated. To address this, we recorded single units in the aIC of freely moving male mice that had previously undergone auditory fear conditioning, assessed the effect of optogenetically activating specific aIC output structures in fear, and examined the organization of aIC neurons projecting to the specific structures with retrograde tracing. Single-unit recordings revealed that a balanced number of aIC pyramidal neurons' activity either positively or negatively correlated with a conditioned tone-induced freezing (fear) response. Optogenetic manipulations of aIC pyramidal neuronal activity during conditioned tone presentation altered the expression of conditioned freezing. Neural tracing showed that non-overlapping populations of aIC neurons project to the amygdala or the medial thalamus, and the pathway bidirectionally modulated conditioned fear. Specifically, optogenetic stimulation of the aIC-amygdala pathway increased conditioned freezing, while optogenetic stimulation of the aIC-medial thalamus pathway decreased it. Our findings suggest that the balance of freezing-excited and freezing-inhibited neuronal activity in the aIC and the distinct efferent circuits interact collectively to modulate fear behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanggeon Park
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Yeowool Huh
- Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong UniversityGangneungRepublic of Korea
- Institute for Bio-Medical Convergence, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic Kwandong UniversityIncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Jeansok J Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Jeiwon Cho
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
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Dinckol O, Wenger NH, Zachry JE, Kutlu MG. Nucleus accumbens core single cell ensembles bidirectionally respond to experienced versus observed aversive events. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22602. [PMID: 38114559 PMCID: PMC10730531 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49686-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear learning is a critical feature of survival skills among mammals. In rodents, fear learning manifests itself through direct experience of the aversive event or social transmission of aversive stimuli such as observing and acting on conspecifics' distress. The neuronal network underlying the social transmission of information largely overlaps with the brain regions that mediate behavioral responses to aversive and rewarding stimuli. In this study, we recorded single cell activity patterns of nucleus accumbens (NAc) core neurons using in vivo optical imaging of calcium transients via miniature scopes. This cutting-edge imaging methodology not only allows us to record activity patterns of individual neurons but also lets us longitudinally follow these individual neurons across time and different behavioral states. Using this approach, we identified NAc core single cell ensembles that respond to experienced and/or observed aversive stimuli. Our results showed that experienced and observed aversive stimuli evoke NAc core ensemble activity that is largely positive, with a smaller subset of negative responses. The size of the NAc single cell ensemble response was greater for experienced aversive stimuli compared to observed aversive events. Our results also revealed sex differences in the NAc core single cell ensembles responses to experience aversive stimuli, where females showed a greater accumbal response. Importantly, we found a subpopulation within the NAc core single cell ensembles that show a bidirectional response to experienced aversive stimuli versus observed aversive stimuli (i.e., negative response to experienced and positive response to observed). Our results suggest that the NAc plays a role in differentiating somatosensory experience from social observation of aversion at a single cell level. These results have important implications for psychopathologies where social information processing is maladaptive, such as autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyku Dinckol
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Noah Harris Wenger
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Jennifer E Zachry
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Munir Gunes Kutlu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
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Lin ERH, Roeckner AR, Fani N, Merrill N, Gillespie CF, Ely TD, Bradley B, Michopoulos V, Powers A, Jovanovic T, Stevens JS. Association between dimensions of trauma-related psychopathology and asthma in trauma-exposed women. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1268877. [PMID: 38025383 PMCID: PMC10648896 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1268877] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Exposure to traumatic events and stressful life experiences are associated with a wide range of adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Studies have found post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety sensitivity occurrence to be common in addition to inflammatory diseases like asthma, especially in women. Moreover, overlapping neurobiological mechanisms have been linked to both PTSD and asthma. Methods In the current study, n = 508 women reported on presence of lifetime asthma diagnosis and symptoms of trauma-related psychopathology including PTSD and depression. A separate group of female participants (n = 64) reported on asthma, PTSD, depression and anxiety sensitivity, and underwent functional MRI scans during a fearful faces task, and their anterior insula responses were analyzed. Results Overall, PTSD and depression severity were significantly higher in those with asthma versus those without asthma. There was a positive association between anterior insula response to social threat cues and depression symptoms only among individuals without a lifetime presence of asthma. Discussion These findings provide continued evidence on the interactions between stress, neural mechanisms involved in interoception and salience detection, and trauma-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther R.-H. Lin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alyssa R. Roeckner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Natalie Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Charles F. Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Timothy D. Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Atlanta VA Health Care System, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jennifer S. Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Atlanta VA Health Care System, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Dinckol O, Zachry JE, Kutlu MG. Nucleus accumbens core single cell ensembles bidirectionally respond to experienced versus observed aversive events. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.17.549364. [PMID: 37503203 PMCID: PMC10370069 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.549364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Empathy is the ability to adopt others' sensory and emotional states and is an evolutionarily conserved trait among mammals. In rodents, empathy manifests itself as social modulation of aversive stimuli such as acknowledging and acting on conspecifics' distress. The neuronal network underlying social transmission of information is known to overlap with the brain regions that mediate behavioral responses to aversive and rewarding stimuli. In this study, we recorded single cell activity patterns of nucleus accumbens (NAc) core neurons using in vivo optical imaging of calcium transients via miniature scopes. This cutting-edge imaging methodology not only allows us to record activity patterns of individual neurons but also lets us longitudinally follow these individual neurons across time and different behavioral states. Using this approach, we identified NAc core single cell ensembles that respond to experienced and/or observed aversive stimuli. Our results showed that experienced and observed aversive stimuli evoke NAc core ensemble activity that is largely positive, with a smaller subset of negative responses. The size of the NAc single cell ensemble response was greater for experienced aversive stimuli compared to observed aversive events. Our results also revealed a subpopulation within the NAc core single cell ensembles that show a bidirectional response to experienced aversive stimuli versus observed aversive stimuli (i.e., negative response to experienced and positive response to observed). These results suggest that the NAc plays a role in differentiating somatosensory experience from social observation of aversion at a single cell level. This has important implications for psychopathologies where social information processing is maladaptive, such as autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Munir Gunes Kutlu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
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Min JY, Park S, Cho J, Huh Y. The anterior insular cortex processes social recognition memory. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10853. [PMID: 37407809 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38044-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Impaired social abilities are characteristics of a variety of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder. Studies consistently implicated the relationship between the anterior insular cortex (aIC) and social ability, however, how the aIC involves in processing specific subtypes of social ability was uninvestigated. We, therefore, investigated whether the absence or presence of the aIC affects the social behaviors of mice. We found that electrolytic lesions of the aIC specifically impaired mice's ability to recognize a novel stranger mouse, while the sociability of the aIC-lesioned mice was intact. Interestingly, the aIC-lesioned mice were still distinguished between a mouse that had been housed together before the aIC lesion and a novel mouse, supporting that retrieval of social recognition memory may not involve the aIC. Additional behavioral tests revealed that this specific social ability impairment induced by the aIC lesion was not due to impairment in olfaction, learning and memory, locomotion, or anxiety levels. Together our data suggest that the aIC is specifically involved in processing social recognition memory, but not necessarily involved in retrieving it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-You Min
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanggeon Park
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
- Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeiwon Cho
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
- Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yeowool Huh
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung‑si, 25601, Republic of Korea.
- Translational Brain Research Center, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, 22711, Republic of Korea.
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Moraga-Amaro R, Muñoz P, Villalobos T, Linsambarth S, Maldonado F, Meirone V, Femopase B, Stehberg J. Real-world data of non-invasive stimulation of the human insula-prefrontal cortices using deep TMS to treat anxiety for occupational stress and generalized anxiety disorder. Psychiatry Res 2023; 320:115036. [PMID: 36586377 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.115036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the insula is found in all anxiety-related disorders and increased insular-prefrontal cortex (PFC) functional connectivity is associated with reduced anxiety. In this study, the combined stimulation of the insula and PFC using the dTMS H4 (insula+LPFC) and H2 (PFC) coils were used to reduce anxiety in 13 subjects experiencing occupational stress, and 55 participants suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The combined HF stimulation of the insula and PFC significantly decreased anxiety scores according to the HARS, CAS, and STAI anxiety scales, leading to a reduction in anxiety according to HARS of 88.7% and 70.7% in participants with occupational stress and the clinical sample of participants diagnosed with GAD, respectively. The findings suggest that the prefrontal-insular axis is critical for the regulation of anxiety and its stimulation can be used for the treatment of anxiety in people suffering from occupational stress and GAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Moraga-Amaro
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paula Muñoz
- Clínica Nova Vita. Del Inca 4446 of. 708. Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tomás Villalobos
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Francisco Maldonado
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valeria Meirone
- Clínica Nova Vita. Del Inca 4446 of. 708. Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bruno Femopase
- Clínica Nova Vita. Del Inca 4446 of. 708. Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jimmy Stehberg
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
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Grady FS, Graff SA, Resch JM, Geerling JC. Parabrachial-insular stimulation does not wake mice. J Neurophysiol 2023; 129:347-355. [PMID: 36542422 PMCID: PMC9886350 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00318.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The parabrachial nucleus (PB) in the upper brainstem receives interoceptive information and sends a massive output projection directly to the cerebral cortex. Its glutamatergic axons primarily target the midinsular cortex, and we have proposed that this PB-insular projection promotes arousal. Here, we test whether stimulating this projection causes wakefulness. We combined optogenetics and video-electroencephalography (vEEG) in mice to test this hypothesis by stimulating PB axons in the insular cortex. Stimulating this projection did not alter the cortical EEG or awaken mice. Also, despite a tendency toward aversion, PB-insular stimulation did not significantly alter real-time place preference (RTPP). These results are not consistent with the hypothesis that the direct PB-insular projection is part of the ascending arousal system.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A brainstem region critical for wakefulness overlaps the medial parabrachial nucleus (PB) and has functional and direct axonal connectivity with the insular cortex. In this study, we hypothesized that this direct projection from the PB to the insular cortex promotes arousal. However, photostimulating PB axons in the insular cortex did not alter the cortical EEG or awaken mice. This information constrains the possible circuit connections through which brainstem neurons may sustain arousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fillan S Grady
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | | | - Jon M Resch
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Joel C Geerling
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
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