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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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Lee H, Kaang BK. How engram mediates learning, extinction, and relapse. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 81:102723. [PMID: 37030026 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Fear learning ensures survival through an expression of certain behavior as a conditioned fear response. Fear memory is processed and stored in a fear memory circuit, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. A gradual decrease in conditioned fear response can be induced by fear extinction, which is mediated through the weakening of the original fear memory traces and the newly formed inhibition of those traces. Fear memory can also recover after extinction, which shows flexible control of the fear memory state. Here, we demonstrate how fear engram, which is a physical substrate of fear memory, changes during fear extinction and relapse by reviewing recent studies regarding engram.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoonwon Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Bong-Kiun Kaang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
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Park H, Kirlic N, Kuplicki R, Paulus M, Guinjoan S. Neural Processing Dysfunctions During Fear Learning but Not Reward-Related Processing Characterize Depressed Individuals With High Levels of Repetitive Negative Thinking. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:716-724. [PMID: 35065290 PMCID: PMC9271540 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a symptom dimension of depression that is associated with a poorer prognosis in terms of higher recurrence, treatment resistance, residual symptoms, and disability. This investigation examined whether RNT is associated with aberrant reward processing and fear learning. METHODS Very high RNT (VH-RNT) (n = 60) and high RNT (H-RNT) (n = 60) propensity-matched individuals with depression (age, sex, race/ethnicity, income/employment, body mass index, depressive and anxiety symptom severity) participated in this study along with matched healthy comparison volunteers (n = 30). This propensity-matched sample was selected from the larger Tulsa 1000 study. Participants performed two functional magnetic resonance imaging tasks: the monetary incentive delay task probing reward processing and the fear conditioning task probing aversive learning and extinction. RESULTS Both VH-RNT and H-RNT groups showed lower neural activity than healthy comparison subjects in reward circuitry, including the inferior frontal gyrus (VH-RNT: β = -1.24, H-RNT: β = -1.28) and the cerebellum (VH-RNT: β = -0.93, H-RNT: β = -1.14). However, individuals with VH-RNT exhibited lower activation than those with H-RNT in central autonomic network components during fear conditioning (β = -0.84) and continued conditioned responses during early extinction in the postcentral cortex (β = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS VH-RNT showed aberrant processing in fear conditioning during both learning and extinction phases compared with H-RNT. These findings demonstrate that dysfunctions of negative valence associated with RNT may be domain specific, which should be taken into account for identifying potential specific targets of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heekyeong Park
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Department of Psychology, University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Namik Kirlic
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma
| | | | - Martin Paulus
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Suzuki A, Kosugi S, Murayama E, Sasakawa E, Ohkawa N, Konno A, Hirai H, Inokuchi K. A cortical cell ensemble in the posterior parietal cortex controls past experience-dependent memory updating. Nat Commun 2022; 13:41. [PMID: 35017495 PMCID: PMC8752845 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27763-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
When processing current sensory inputs, animals refer to related past experiences. Current information is then incorporated into the related neural network to update previously stored memories. However, the neuronal mechanism underlying the impact of memories of prior experiences on current learning is not well understood. Here, we found that a cellular ensemble in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) that is activated during past experience mediates an interaction between past and current information to update memory through a PPC-anterior cingulate cortex circuit in mice. Moreover, optogenetic silencing of the PPC ensemble immediately after retrieval dissociated the interaction without affecting individual memories stored in the hippocampus and amygdala. Thus, a specific subpopulation of PPC cells represents past information and instructs downstream brain regions to update previous memories. Animals refer to related past experiences when processing sensory inputs. The authors show that a cellular ensemble in the posterior parietal cortex that is activated during past experience mediates an interaction between past and current information to update memory through a circuit including the anterior cingulate cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akinobu Suzuki
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.,CREST, JST, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Sakurako Kosugi
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.,CREST, JST, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Emi Murayama
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.,CREST, JST, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Eri Sasakawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Noriaki Ohkawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.,CREST, JST, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.,PRESTO, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.,Division for Memory and Cognitive Function, Research Center for Advanced Medical Science, Comprehensive Research Facilities for Advanced Medical Science, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan
| | - Ayumu Konno
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Hirai
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Kaoru Inokuchi
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan. .,CREST, JST, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan. .,Research Center for Idling Brain Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.
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A role of anterior cingulate cortex in the emergence of worker-parasite relationship. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2111145118. [PMID: 34815341 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2111145118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the brain mechanisms underlying action selection in a social dilemma setting in which individuals' effortful gains are unfairly distributed among group members. A stable "worker-parasite" relationship developed when three individually operant-conditioned rats were placed together in a Skinner box equipped with response lever and food dispenser on opposite sides. Specifically, one rat, the "worker," engaged in lever-pressing while the other two "parasitic" rats profited from the worker's effort by crowding the feeder in anticipation of food. Anatomically, c-Fos expression in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was significantly higher in worker rats than in parasite rats. Functionally, ACC inactivation suppressed the worker's lever-press behavior drastically under social, but only mildly under individual, settings. Transcriptionally, GABAA receptor- and potassium channel-related messenger RNA expressions were reliably lower in the worker's, relative to parasite's, ACC. These findings indicate the requirement of ACC activation for the expression of exploitable, effortful behavior, which could be mediated by molecular pathways involving GABAA receptor/potassium channel proteins.
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Jeon Y, Lim Y, Yeom J, Kim EK. Comparative metabolic profiling of posterior parietal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus in conditioned fear memory. Mol Brain 2021; 14:153. [PMID: 34615530 PMCID: PMC8493686 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00863-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear conditioning and retrieval are suitable models to investigate the biological basis of various mental disorders. Hippocampus and amygdala neurons consolidate conditioned stimulus (CS)-dependent fear memory. Posterior parietal cortex is considered important for the CS-dependent conditioning and retrieval of fear memory. Metabolomic screening among functionally related brain areas provides molecular signatures and biomarkers to improve the treatment of psychopathologies. Herein, we analyzed and compared changes of metabolites in the hippocampus, amygdala, and posterior parietal cortex under the fear retrieval condition. Metabolite profiles of posterior parietal cortex and amygdala were similarly changed after fear memory retrieval. While the retrieval of fear memory perturbed various metabolic pathways, most metabolic pathways that overlapped among the three brain regions had high ranks in the enrichment analysis of posterior parietal cortex. In posterior parietal cortex, the most perturbed pathways were pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, purine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and NAD+ dependent signaling. Metabolites of posterior parietal cortex including 4'-phosphopantetheine, xanthine, glutathione, ADP-ribose, ADP-ribose 2'-phosphate, and cyclic ADP-ribose were significantly regulated in these metabolic pathways. These results point to the importance of metabolites of posterior parietal cortex in conditioned fear memory retrieval and may provide potential biomarker candidates for traumatic memory-related mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonjeong Jeon
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Neurometabolomics Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Lim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwoo Yeom
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Neurometabolomics Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Kyoung Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
- Neurometabolomics Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
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Memories are not written in stone: Re-writing fear memories by means of non-invasive brain stimulation and optogenetic manipulations. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:334-352. [PMID: 33964307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The acquisition of fear associative memory requires brain processes of coordinated neural activity within the amygdala, prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, thalamus and brainstem. After fear consolidation, a suppression of fear memory in the absence of danger is crucial to permit adaptive coping behavior. Acquisition and maintenance of fear extinction critically depend on amygdala-PFC projections. The robust correspondence between the brain networks encompassed cortical and subcortical hubs involved into fear processing in humans and in other species underscores the potential utility of comparing the modulation of brain circuitry in humans and animals, as a crucial step to inform the comprehension of fear mechanisms and the development of treatments for fear-related disorders. The present review is aimed at providing a comprehensive description of the literature on recent clinical and experimental researches regarding the noninvasive brain stimulation and optogenetics. These innovative manipulations applied over specific hubs of fear matrix during fear acquisition, consolidation, reconsolidation and extinction allow an accurate characterization of specific brain circuits and their peculiar interaction within the specific fear processing.
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