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Klaassen FH, de Voogd LD, Hulsman AM, O'Reilly JX, Klumpers F, Figner B, Roelofs K. The neurocomputational link between defensive cardiac states and approach-avoidance arbitration under threat. Commun Biol 2024; 7:576. [PMID: 38755409 PMCID: PMC11099143 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06267-6] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Avoidance, a hallmark of anxiety-related psychopathology, often comes at a cost; avoiding threat may forgo the possibility of a reward. Theories predict that optimal approach-avoidance arbitration depends on threat-induced psychophysiological states, like freezing-related bradycardia. Here we used model-based fMRI analyses to investigate whether and how bradycardia states are linked to the neurocomputational underpinnings of approach-avoidance arbitration under varying reward and threat magnitudes. We show that bradycardia states are associated with increased threat-induced avoidance and more pronounced reward-threat value comparison (i.e., a stronger tendency to approach vs. avoid when expected reward outweighs threat). An amygdala-striatal-prefrontal circuit supports approach-avoidance arbitration under threat, with specific involvement of the amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) in integrating reward-threat value and bradycardia states. These findings highlight the role of human freezing states in value-based decision making, relevant for optimal threat coping. They point to a specific role for amygdala/dACC in state-value integration under threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix H Klaassen
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Lycia D de Voogd
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University, Behavioural Science Institute (BSI), Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Leiden University, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anneloes M Hulsman
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University, Behavioural Science Institute (BSI), Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jill X O'Reilly
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Woodstock Road, OX2 6GG, Oxford, UK
| | - Floris Klumpers
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University, Behavioural Science Institute (BSI), Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd Figner
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University, Behavioural Science Institute (BSI), Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Radboud University, Behavioural Science Institute (BSI), Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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LeDuke DO, Borio M, Miranda R, Tye KM. Anxiety and depression: A top-down, bottom-up model of circuit function. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1525:70-87. [PMID: 37129246 PMCID: PMC10695657 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14997] [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: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A functional interplay of bottom-up and top-down processing allows an individual to appropriately respond to the dynamic environment around them. These processing modalities can be represented as attractor states using a dynamical systems model of the brain. The transition probability to move from one attractor state to another is dependent on the stability, depth, neuromodulatory tone, and tonic changes in plasticity. However, how does the relationship between these states change in disease states, such as anxiety or depression? We describe bottom-up and top-down processing from Marr's computational-algorithmic-implementation perspective to understand depressive and anxious disease states. We illustrate examples of bottom-up processing as basolateral amygdala signaling and projections and top-down processing as medial prefrontal cortex internal signaling and projections. Understanding these internal processing dynamics can help us better model the multifaceted elements of anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deryn O. LeDuke
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Matilde Borio
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Raymundo Miranda
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kay M. Tye
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Kavli Institute for the Brain and Mind, La Jolla, California, USA
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3
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Basu I, Yousefi A, Crocker B, Zelmann R, Paulk AC, Peled N, Ellard KK, Weisholtz DS, Cosgrove GR, Deckersbach T, Eden UT, Eskandar EN, Dougherty DD, Cash SS, Widge AS. Closed-loop enhancement and neural decoding of cognitive control in humans. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:576-588. [PMID: 34725508 PMCID: PMC9056584 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00804-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in cognitive control-that is, in the ability to withhold a default pre-potent response in favour of a more adaptive choice-are common in depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental disorders. Here we report proof-of-concept evidence that, in participants undergoing intracranial epilepsy monitoring, closed-loop direct stimulation of the internal capsule or striatum, especially the dorsal sites, enhances the participants' cognitive control during a conflict task. We also show that closed-loop stimulation upon the detection of lapses in cognitive control produced larger behavioural changes than open-loop stimulation, and that task performance for single trials can be directly decoded from the activity of a small number of electrodes via neural features that are compatible with existing closed-loop brain implants. Closed-loop enhancement of cognitive control might remediate underlying cognitive deficits and aid the treatment of severe mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Basu
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ali Yousefi
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Computer Science and Neuroscience, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Britni Crocker
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rina Zelmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Angelique C Paulk
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noam Peled
- Department of Radiology, MGH/HST Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristen K Ellard
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - G Rees Cosgrove
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thilo Deckersbach
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Uri T Eden
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emad N Eskandar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Darin D Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sydney S Cash
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alik S Widge
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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4
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Pu H, Wang Y, Yang T, Leak RK, Stetler RA, Yu F, Zhang W, Shi Y, Hu X, Yin KJ, Hitchens TK, Dixon CE, Bennett MVL, Chen J. Interleukin-4 mitigates anxiety-like behavior and loss of neurons and fiber tracts in limbic structures in a microglial PPARγ-dependent manner after traumatic brain injury. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 180:106078. [PMID: 36914076 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106078] [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: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is commonly followed by intractable psychiatric disorders and long-term changes in affect, such as anxiety. The present study sought to investigate the effect of repetitive intranasal delivery of interleukin-4 (IL-4) nanoparticles on affective symptoms after TBI in mice. Adult male C57BL/6 J mice (10-12 weeks of age) were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI) and assessed by a battery of neurobehavioral tests up to 35 days after CCI. Neuron numbers were counted in multiple limbic structures, and the integrity of limbic white matter tracts was evaluated using ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). As STAT6 is a critical mediator of IL-4-specific transcriptional activation, STAT6 knockout mice were used to explore the role of endogenous IL-4/STAT6 signaling axis in TBI-induced affective disorders. We also employed microglia/macrophage (Mi/Mϕ)-specific PPARγ conditional knockout (mKO) mice to test if Mi/Mϕ PPARγ critically contributes to IL-4-afforded beneficial effects. We observed anxiety-like behaviors up to 35 days after CCI, and these measures were exacerbated in STAT6 KO mice but mitigated by repetitive IL-4 delivery. We discovered that IL-4 protected against neuronal loss in limbic structures, such as the hippocampus and the amygdala, and improved the structural integrity of fiber tracts connecting the hippocampus and amygdala. We also observed that IL-4 boosted a beneficial Mi/Mϕ phenotype (CD206+/Arginase 1+/PPARγ+ triple-positive) in the subacute injury phase, and that the numbers of Mi/Mϕ appositions with neurons were robustly correlated with long-term behavioral performances. Remarkably, PPARγ-mKO completely abolished IL-4-afforded protection. Thus, CCI induces long-term anxiety-like behaviors in mice, but these changes in affect can be attenuated by transnasal IL-4 delivery. IL-4 prevents the long-term loss of neuronal somata and fiber tracts in key limbic structures, perhaps due to a shift in Mi/Mϕ phenotype. Exogenous IL-4 therefore holds promise for future clinical management of mood disturbances following TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Pu
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Yangfan Wang
- Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Tuo Yang
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Rehana K Leak
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | - R Anne Stetler
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Fang Yu
- Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Wenting Zhang
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Yejie Shi
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Xiaoming Hu
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ke-Jie Yin
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - T Kevin Hitchens
- Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA
| | - C Edward Dixon
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Michael V L Bennett
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jun Chen
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA; Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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5
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Li Q, Zhang J, Gao Z, Zhang Y, Gu J. Gut microbiota-induced microRNA-206-3p increases anxiety-like behaviors by inhibiting expression of Cited2 and STK39. Microb Pathog 2023; 176:106008. [PMID: 36736544 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorder is highly prevalent worldwide and represents a chronic and functionally disabling condition, with high levels of psychological stress characterized by cognitive and physiological symptoms. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of gut microbiota regulating microRNA (miR)-206-3p as a biomarker in the anxiety-like behaviors. METHODS Initially, bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict the related factors for gut microbiota affecting anxiety-like behaviors. Next, the anxiety-like behaviors in mice were measured by multiple experiments. Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were utilized to measure the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neutrophil expressed (NE) in brain tissues and serum and cAMP responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB) phosphorylation in brain tissues of germ-free (GF) mice. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was employed to verify the relationship between miR-206-3p and Cbp/p300 interacting transactivator with Glu/Asp rich carboxy-terminal domain 2 (Cited2)/serine/threonine kinase 39 (STK39). Ectopic expression and depletion experiments of miR-206-3p were conducted to determine the expression of miR-206-3p and mRNA and protein levels of Cited2, and STK39 in HT22 cells and brain tissues. Finally, transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the effects of miR-206-3p on hippocampal mitochondria and synapses. RESULTS Gut microbiota could elevate miR-206-3p expression in brain tissues to increase the anxiety-like behaviors. GF mice displayed the increased levels of 5-HT, BDNF, and NE in brain tissues and serum and CREB phosphorylation in brain tissues. Cited2/STK39 was identified as the target genes of miR-206-3p. Upregulated miR-206-3p increased anxiety-like behaviors by promoting degeneration of mitochondria and synapses in hippocampus via downregulation of Cited2 and STK39. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the key findings of the current study demonstrate that gut microbiota aggravated anxiety-like behaviors via the miR-206-3p/Cited2/STK39 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453002, Henan, China.
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453002, Henan, China
| | - Zhitao Gao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453002, Henan, China
| | - Yujuan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453002, Henan, China
| | - Jingyang Gu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453002, Henan, China
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6
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Rusconi F, Rossetti MG, Forastieri C, Tritto V, Bellani M, Battaglioli E. Preclinical and clinical evidence on the approach-avoidance conflict evaluation as an integrative tool for psychopathology. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2022; 31:e90. [PMID: 36510831 PMCID: PMC9762142 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796022000725] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The approach-avoidance conflict (AAC), i.e. the competing tendencies to undertake goal-directed actions or to withdraw from everyday life challenges, stands at the basis of humans' existence defining behavioural and personality domains. Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory posits that a stable bias toward approach or avoidance represents a psychopathological trait associated with excessive sensitivity to reward or punishment. Optogenetic studies in rodents and imaging studies in humans associated with cross-species AAC paradigms granted new emphasis to the hippocampus as a hub of behavioural inhibition. For instance, recent functional neuroimaging studies show that functional brain activity in the human hippocampus correlates with threat perception and seems to underlie passive avoidance. Therefore, our commentary aims to (i) discuss the inhibitory role of the hippocampus in approach-related behaviours and (ii) promote the integration of functional neuroimaging with cross-species AAC paradigms as a means of diagnostic, therapeutic, follow up and prognosis refinement in psychiatric populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Rusconi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - M. G. Rossetti
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - C. Forastieri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - V. Tritto
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - M. Bellani
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - E. Battaglioli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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7
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Farran EK, Hudson KD, Bennett A, Ameen A, Misheva I, Bechlem B, Blades M, Courbois Y. Anxiety and Spatial Navigation in Williams Syndrome and Down Syndrome. Dev Neuropsychol 2022; 47:136-157. [PMID: 35282728 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2022.2047685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) and individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) present with poor navigation and elevated anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between these two characteristics. Parent report questionnaires measured navigation abilities and anxiety in WS (N = 55) and DS (N = 42) as follows. Anxiety: Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and a novel measure of navigation anxiety. Navigation: Santa Barbara Sense of Direction Scale (SBSOD) and a novel measure of navigation competence. Most individuals were not permitted to travel independently. A relationship between navigation anxiety and SBSOD scores (but not navigation competence) was observed for both groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Farran
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Kerry D Hudson
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amelia Bennett
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Aan Ameen
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Iliana Misheva
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Badri Bechlem
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Blades
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yannick Courbois
- Univ. Lille, ULR 4072 - PSITEC - Psychologie: Interactions Temps Émotions Cognition, Lille, France
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8
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The non-human perspective on the neurobiology of temperament, personality, and psychopathology: what’s next? Curr Opin Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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9
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Murray EA, Fellows LK. Prefrontal cortex interactions with the amygdala in primates. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:163-179. [PMID: 34446829 PMCID: PMC8616954 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01128-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This review addresses functional interactions between the primate prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala, with emphasis on their contributions to behavior and cognition. The interplay between these two telencephalic structures contributes to adaptive behavior and to the evolutionary success of all primate species. In our species, dysfunction in this circuitry creates vulnerabilities to psychopathologies. Here, we describe amygdala-PFC contributions to behaviors that have direct relevance to Darwinian fitness: learned approach and avoidance, foraging, predator defense, and social signaling, which have in common the need for flexibility and sensitivity to specific and rapidly changing contexts. Examples include the prediction of positive outcomes, such as food availability, food desirability, and various social rewards, or of negative outcomes, such as threats of harm from predators or conspecifics. To promote fitness optimally, these stimulus-outcome associations need to be rapidly updated when an associative contingency changes or when the value of a predicted outcome changes. We review evidence from nonhuman primates implicating the PFC, the amygdala, and their functional interactions in these processes, with links to experimental work and clinical findings in humans where possible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lesley K Fellows
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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10
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Cross-species anxiety tests in psychiatry: pitfalls and promises. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:154-163. [PMID: 34561614 PMCID: PMC8960405 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01299-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural anxiety tests in non-human animals are used for anxiolytic drug discovery, and to investigate the neurobiology of threat avoidance. Over the past decade, several of them were translated to humans with three clinically relevant goals: to assess potential efficacy of candidate treatments in healthy humans; to develop diagnostic tests or biomarkers; and to elucidate the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. In this review, we scrutinise these promises and compare seven anxiety tests that are validated across species: five approach-avoidance conflict tests, unpredictable shock anticipation, and the social intrusion test in children. Regarding the first goal, three tests appear suitable for anxiolytic drug screening in humans. However, they have not become part of the drug development pipeline and achieving this may require independent confirmation of predictive validity and cost-effectiveness. Secondly, two tests have shown potential to measure clinically relevant individual differences, but their psychometric properties, predictive value, and clinical applicability need to be clarified. Finally, cross-species research has not yet revealed new evidence that the physiology of healthy human behaviour in anxiety tests relates to the physiology of anxiety symptoms in patients. To summarise, cross-species anxiety tests could be rendered useful for drug screening and for development of diagnostic instruments. Using these tests for aetiology research in healthy humans or animals needs to be queried and may turn out to be unrealistic.
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11
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Labus JS, Mayer EA, Tillisch K, Aagaard KM, Stains J, Broniowska K, Van Remortel C, Tun G, Rapkin A. Dysregulation in Sphingolipid Signaling Pathways is Associated With Symptoms and Functional Connectivity of Pain Processing Brain Regions in Provoked Vestibulodynia. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2021; 22:1586-1605. [PMID: 34029688 PMCID: PMC10460622 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by local hypersensitivity and severe pain with pressure localized to the vulvar vestibule. Despite decades of study, the lack of identified biomarkers has slowed the development of effective therapies. The primary aim of this study was to use metabolomics to identify novel biochemical mechanisms in vagina and blood underlying brain biomarkers and symptoms in PVD, thereby closing this knowledge gap. Using a cross-sectional case-control observational study design, untargeted and unbiased metabolomic profiling of vaginal fluid and plasma was performed in women with PVD compared to healthy controls. In women with PVD, we also obtained assessments of vulvar pain, vestibular and vaginal muscle tenderness, and 24-hour symptom intensity alongside resting-state brain functional connectivity of brain regions involved in pain processing and modulation. Compared to healthy controls, women with PVD demonstrated differences primarily in vaginal (but not plasma) concentrations of metabolites of the sphingolipid signaling pathways, suggesting localized effects in vagina and vulvar vestibule rather than systemic effects. Our findings reveal that dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism in PVD is associated with increased vulvar pain and muscle tenderness, sexual dysfunction, and decreased functional connectivity strength in pain processing/modulatory brain regions. This data collectively suggests that alterations in sphingolipid signaling pathways are likely an important molecular biomarker in PVD that could lead to new targets for therapeutic intervention. PERSPECTIVE: This manuscript presents the results of a robust, unbiased molecular assessment of plasma and vaginal fluid samples in women with provoked vestibulodynia compared to healthy controls. The findings suggest that alterations in sphingolipid signaling pathways are associated with symptoms and brain biomarkers and may be an important molecular marker that could provide new targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Labus
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California; Brain Research Institute UCLA, Gonda (Goldschmied) Neuroscience and Genetics Research Center, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kirsten Tillisch
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kjersti M Aagaard
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jean Stains
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Charlotte Van Remortel
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Guistinna Tun
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Andrea Rapkin
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California
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12
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Doppelhofer LM, Hurlemann R, Bach DR, Korn CW. Social motives in a patient with bilateral selective amygdala lesions: Shift in prosocial motivation but not in social value orientation. Neuropsychologia 2021; 162:108016. [PMID: 34499958 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108016] [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: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Humans hold social motives that are expressed in social preferences and influence how they evaluate and share payoffs. Established models in psychology and economics quantify social preferences such as general social value orientation, which captures people's tendency to be prosocial or individualistic. Prosocials further differ by how much they maximize joint gains or minimize inequality. Functional neuroimaging studies have linked increased amygdala activity in prosocials to payoff inequality between self and other. However, it is unclear whether amygdala lesions alter social motives. We used two tasks to test a patient with selective bilateral amygdala lesions and three healthy samples (a priori matched control sample N = 20, online sample N = 603, student sample N = 40), which allowed us to assess and model social motives across a relatively large number of participants. In a social value orientation task, the patient was categorized as prosocial and her social value orientation score did not differ from healthy participants. Importantly, the patient differed in prosocial motivation by maximizing joint gains rather than minimizing payoff inequality. In a joint payoff evaluation task, Bayesian model comparisons revealed that participants' evaluations were best described by models, which link participants' evaluations to the payoff magnitude and to inequality. Overall, amygdala lesions did not seem to alter general social value orientation but shifted prosocial motivation toward maximizing joint gains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Doppelhofer
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany; Department of General Adult Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - René Hurlemann
- Department of Psychiatry and Division of Medical Psychology, University of Bonn, 53012, Bonn, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oldenburg Medical Campus, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
| | - Dominik R Bach
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, WC1B 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph W Korn
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany; Department of General Adult Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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13
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Trivedi A, Tercovich KG, Casbon AJ, Raber J, Lowell C, Noble-Haeusslein LJ. Neutrophil-specific deletion of Syk results in recruitment-independent stabilization of the barrier and a long-term improvement in cognitive function after traumatic injury to the developing brain. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 157:105430. [PMID: 34153467 PMCID: PMC11302380 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
While traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children, we have yet to identify those pathogenic events that determine the extent of recovery. Neutrophils are best known as "first responders" to sites of infection and trauma where they become fully activated, killing pathogens via proteases that are released during degranulation. However, this activational state may generate substantial toxicity in the young brain after TBI that is partially due to developmentally regulated inadequate antioxidant reserves. Neutrophil degranulation is triggered via a downstream signaling pathway that is dependent on spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). To test the hypothesis that the activational state of neutrophils is a determinant of early pathogenesis and long-term recovery, we compared young, brain-injured conditional knockouts of Syk (sykf/fMRP8-cre+) to congenic littermates (sykf/f). Based upon flow cytometry, there was an extended recruitment of distinct leukocyte subsets, including Ly6G+/Ly6C- and Ly6G+/Ly6Cint, over the first several weeks post-injury which was similar between genotypes. Subsequent assessment of the acutely injured brain revealed a reduction in blood-brain barrier disruption to both high and low molecular weight dextrans and reactive oxygen species in sykf/fMRP8-cre+ mice compared to congenic littermates, and this was associated with greater preservation of claudin 5 and neuronal integrity, as determined by Western blot analyses. At adulthood, motor learning was less affected in brain-injured sykf/fMRP8-cre+ mice as compared to sykf/f mice. Performance in the Morris Water Maze revealed a robust improvement in hippocampal-dependent acquisition and short and long-term spatial memory retention in sykf/fMRP8-cre+ mice. Subsequent analyses of swim path lengths during hidden platform training and probe trials showed greater thigmotaxis in brain-injured sykf/f mice than sham sykf/f mice and injured sykf/fMRP8-cre+ mice. Our results establish the first mechanistic link between the activation state of neutrophils and long-term functional recovery after traumatic injury to the developing brain. These results also highlight Syk kinase as a novel therapeutic target that could be further developed for the brain-injured child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpa Trivedi
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Departments of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Kayleen G Tercovich
- Departments of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Amy Jo Casbon
- Departments of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jacob Raber
- Departments of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurology, and Radiation Medicine, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Clifford Lowell
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Linda J Noble-Haeusslein
- Departments of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Departments of Neurology and Psychology, The Dell Medical School and the College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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14
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Noorani A, Hung PSP, Zhang JY, Sohng K, Laperriere N, Moayedi M, Hodaie M. Pain relief reverses hippocampal abnormalities in trigeminal neuralgia. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2021; 23:141-155. [PMID: 34380093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain patients frequently report memory and concentration difficulties. Objective testing in this population points to poor performance on memory and cognitive tests, and increased comorbid anxiety and depression. Recent evidence has suggested convergence between chronic pain and memory deficits onto the hippocampus. The hippocampus consists of heterogenous subfields involved in memory consolidation, behavior regulation, and stress modulation. Despite significant studies outlining hippocampal changes in human and chronic pain animal models, the effect of pain relief on hippocampal abnormalities remains unknown. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic neuropathic pain disorder which is highly amenable to surgical interventions, providing a unique opportunity to investigate the effect of pain relief. This study investigates the effect of pain relief on hippocampal subfields in TN. Anatomical MR images of 61 TN patients were examined before and 6 months after surgery. Treatment responders (n=47) reported 95% pain relief, whereas non-responders (n=14) reported 40% change in pain on average. At baseline, patients had smaller hippocampal volumes, compared to controls. After surgery, responders' hippocampal volumes normalized, largely driven by CA2/3, CA4 and dentate gyrus, which are involved in memory consolidation and neurogenesis. We propose that hippocampal atrophy in TN is pain-driven and successful treatment normalizes such abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alborz Noorani
- Division of Brain, Imaging, and Behaviour - Systems Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada; Department of Surgery and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collaborative Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Shih-Ping Hung
- Division of Brain, Imaging, and Behaviour - Systems Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada; Department of Surgery and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collaborative Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jia Y Zhang
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kaylee Sohng
- Division of Brain, Imaging, and Behaviour - Systems Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada; Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Normand Laperriere
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Massieh Moayedi
- Collaborative Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Multimodal Sensorimotor and Pain Research, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Clinical & Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario Canada
| | - Mojgan Hodaie
- Division of Brain, Imaging, and Behaviour - Systems Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada; Department of Surgery and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collaborative Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada.
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15
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Chu S, Margerison M, Thavabalasingam S, O'Neil EB, Zhao YF, Ito R, Lee ACH. Perirhinal Cortex is Involved in the Resolution of Learned Approach-Avoidance Conflict Associated with Discrete Objects. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:2701-2719. [PMID: 33429427 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa384] [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] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The rodent ventral and primate anterior hippocampus have been implicated in approach-avoidance (AA) conflict processing. It is unclear, however, whether this structure contributes to AA conflict detection and/or resolution, and if its involvement extends to conditions of AA conflict devoid of spatial/contextual information. To investigate this, neurologically healthy human participants first learned to approach or avoid single novel visual objects with the goal of maximizing earned points. Approaching led to point gain and loss for positive and negative objects, respectively, whereas avoidance had no impact on score. Pairs of these objects, each possessing nonconflicting (positive-positive/negative-negative) or conflicting (positive-negative) valences, were then presented during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants either made an AA decision to score points (Decision task), indicated whether the objects had identical or differing valences (Memory task), or followed a visual instruction to approach or avoid (Action task). Converging multivariate and univariate results revealed that within the medial temporal lobe, perirhinal cortex, rather than the anterior hippocampus, was predominantly associated with object-based AA conflict resolution. We suggest the anterior hippocampus may not contribute equally to all learned AA conflict scenarios and that stimulus information type may be a critical and overlooked determinant of the neural mechanisms underlying AA conflict behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Chu
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew Margerison
- Department of Psychology (Scarborough), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Edward B O'Neil
- Department of Psychology (Scarborough), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yuan-Fang Zhao
- Department of Psychology (Scarborough), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rutsuko Ito
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology (Scarborough), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andy C H Lee
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology (Scarborough), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Maternal L-thyroxine treatment during lactation affects learning and anxiety-like behaviors but not spatial memory in adult rat progeny. Pharmacol Rep 2021; 73:454-463. [PMID: 33481209 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-020-00214-y] [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: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study compared behavioral and molecular indicators of hippocampal function in L-thyroxine treated rats to determine whether thyroid hormone excessiveness produces relatively stable lifelong changes. METHODS Hyperthyroidism was induced in rats by daily injections of L-thyroxine (0.2 mg/kg) to their dams for lactation period (MOH: maternal-onset hyperthyroidism) or to the rats itself during the young adult period (AOH: adult-onset hyperthyroidism; between the day 39-60). Spatial learning was assessed in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). Levels of type 2 and type 3 deiodinases, Erk1/2, JNK and P38MAPK were assessed via western blotting in the hippocampus of trained rats. Measurements were all done in rats aged 60-66 days. RESULTS In MWM, maternally treated rats with L-thyroxine swam more away from the hidden platform, with showing more anxiety-like behavior, as compared to the rats treated or no treated with L-thyroxine in young adulthood. In spite of impaired acquisition, MOH group was not significantly different from the other groups in probe trial. In Western blot of the hippocampus, a decreased the expression of P38MAPK was found in rats treated with L-thyroxine in young adulthood period. However, maternal treatment with L-thyroxine resulted in an increased expression of Type 2 deiodinase and a tendency toward decreased expression of total and phosphorylated ERK1/2. No detectable band for type 3 deiodinase, p-JNK and p-P38MAPK was observed in all three groups. CONCLUSION These results suggest that perinatal excessiveness of thyroid hormone has longstanding effects on hippocampal function and may account for memory problems experienced by adolescents with lactational hyperthyroidism.
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17
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Limbachia C, Morrow K, Khibovska A, Meyer C, Padmala S, Pessoa L. Controllability over stressor decreases responses in key threat-related brain areas. Commun Biol 2021; 4:42. [PMID: 33402686 PMCID: PMC7785729 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01537-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Controllability over stressors has major impacts on brain and behavior. In humans, however, the effect of controllability on responses to stressors is poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated how controllability altered responses to a shock-plus-sound stressor with a between-group yoked design, where participants in controllable and uncontrollable groups experienced matched stressor exposure. Employing Bayesian multilevel analysis at the level of regions of interest and voxels in the insula, and standard voxelwise analysis, we found that controllability decreased stressor-related responses across threat-related regions, notably in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and anterior insula. Posterior cingulate cortex, posterior insula, and possibly medial frontal gyrus showed increased responses during control over stressor. Our findings support the idea that the aversiveness of stressors is reduced when controllable, leading to decreased responses across key regions involved in anxiety-related processing, even at the level of the extended amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chirag Limbachia
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Kelly Morrow
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Anastasiia Khibovska
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Christian Meyer
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Luiz Pessoa
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Maryland Neuroimaging Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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18
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Ramm M, Sundermann B, Gomes CA, Möddel G, Langenbruch L, Nayyeri MD, Young P, Pfleiderer B, Krebs RM, Axmacher N. Probing the relevance of the hippocampus for conflict-induced memory improvement. Neuroimage 2020; 226:117563. [PMID: 33189928 PMCID: PMC7836234 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus plays a key role for episodic memory. In addition, a small but growing number of studies has shown that it also contributes to the resolution of response conflicts. It is less clear how these two functions are related, and how they are affected by hippocampal lesions in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Previous studies suggested that conflict stimuli might be better remembered, but whether the hippocampus is critical for supporting this interaction between conflict processing and memory formation is unknown. Here, we tested 19 patients with MTLE due to hippocampal sclerosis and 19 matched healthy controls. Participants performed a face-word Stroop task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) followed by a recognition task for the faces. We tested whether memory performance and activity in brain regions implicated in long-term memory were modulated by conflict during encoding, and whether this differed between MTLE patients and controls. In controls, we largely replicated previous findings of improved memory for conflict stimuli. While MTLE patients showed response time slowing during conflict trials as well, they did not exhibit a memory benefit. In controls, neural activity of conflict resolution and memory encoding interacted within a hippocampal region of interest. Here, left hippocampal recruitment was less efficient for memory performance in incongruent trials than in congruent trials, suggesting an intrahippocampal competition for limited resources. They also showed an involvement of precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex during conflict resolution. Both effects were not observed in MTLE patients, where activation of the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex instead predicted later memory. Further research is needed to find out whether our findings reflect widespread functional reorganization of the episodic memory network due to hippocampal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Ramm
- Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany; Neurobiology and Genetics of Behavior, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Centre for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Benedikt Sundermann
- Institute of Clinical Radiology, Medical Faculty - University of Muenster - and University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Oldenburg, Evangelisches Krankenhaus, Medical Campus, Oldenburg, Germany; Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Carlos Alexandre Gomes
- Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Gabriel Möddel
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lisa Langenbruch
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Mahboobeh Dehghan Nayyeri
- Institute of Clinical Radiology, Medical Faculty - University of Muenster - and University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR Clinic, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter Young
- Department of Neurology, Medical Park Bad Feilnbach Reithofpark, Bad Feilnbach, Germany
| | - Bettina Pfleiderer
- Institute of Clinical Radiology, Medical Faculty - University of Muenster - and University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Ruth M Krebs
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nikolai Axmacher
- Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
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19
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Abivardi A, Khemka S, Bach DR. Hippocampal Representation of Threat Features and Behavior in a Human Approach-Avoidance Conflict Anxiety Task. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6748-6758. [PMID: 32719163 PMCID: PMC7455211 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2732-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Decisions under threat are crucial to survival and require integration of distinct situational features, such as threat probability and magnitude. Recent evidence from human lesion and neuroimaging studies implicated anterior hippocampus (aHC) and amygdala in approach-avoidance decisions under threat, and linked their integrity to cautious behavior. Here we sought to elucidate how threat dimensions and behavior are represented in these structures. Twenty human participants (11 female) completed an approach-avoidance conflict task during high-resolution fMRI. Participants could gather tokens under threat of capture by a virtual predator, which would lead to token loss. Threat probability (predator wake-up rate) and magnitude (amount of token loss) varied on each trial. To disentangle effects of threat features, and ensuing behavior, we performed a multifold parametric analysis. We found that high threat probability and magnitude related to BOLD signal in left aHC/entorhinal cortex. However, BOLD signal in this region was better explained by avoidance behavior than by these threat features. A priori ROI analysis confirmed the relation of aHC BOLD response with avoidance. Exploratory subfield analysis revealed that this relation was specific to anterior CA2/3 but not CA1. Left lateral amygdala responded to low and high, but not intermediate, threat probability. Our results suggest that aHC BOLD signal is better explained by avoidance behavior than by threat features in approach-avoidance conflict. Rather than representing threat features in a monotonic manner, it appears that aHC may compute approach-avoidance decisions based on integration of situational threat features represented in other neural structures.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT An effective threat anticipation system is crucial to survival across species. Natural threats, however, are diverse and have distinct features. To be able to adapt to different modes of danger, the brain needs to recognize these features, integrate them, and use them to modify behavior. Our results disclose the human anterior hippocampus as a likely arbiter of approach-avoidance decisions harnessing compound environmental information while partially replicating previous findings and blending into recent efforts to illuminate the neural basis of approach-avoidance conflict in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslan Abivardi
- Computational Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich, Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Saurabh Khemka
- Computational Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich, Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Dominik R Bach
- Computational Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich, Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging and Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
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20
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Bach DR, Moutoussis M, Bowler A, Dolan RJ. Predictors of risky foraging behaviour in healthy young people. Nat Hum Behav 2020; 4:832-843. [PMID: 32393840 PMCID: PMC7115941 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-0867-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
During adolescence and early adulthood, learning when to avoid threats and when to pursue rewards becomes crucial. Using a risky foraging task, we investigated individual differences in this dynamic across 781 individuals aged 14-24 years who were split into a hypothesis-generating discovery sample and a hold-out confirmation sample. Sex was the most important predictor of cautious behaviour and performance. Males earned one standard deviation (or 20%) more reward than females, collected more reward when there was little to lose and reduced foraging to the same level as females when potential losses became high. Other independent predictors of cautiousness and performance were self-reported daringness, IQ and self-reported cognitive complexity. We found no evidence for an impact of age or maturation. Thus, maleness, a high IQ or self-reported cognitive complexity, and self-reported daringness predicted greater success in risky foraging, possibly due to better exploitation of low-risk opportunities in high-risk environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik R Bach
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK.
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK.
- Computational Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Moutoussis
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Aislinn Bowler
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Raymond J Dolan
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
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21
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Piretti L, Pappaianni E, Lunardelli A, Zorzenon I, Ukmar M, Pesavento V, Rumiati RI, Job R, Grecucci A. The Role of Amygdala in Self-Conscious Emotions in a Patient With Acquired Bilateral Damage. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:677. [PMID: 32733192 PMCID: PMC7360725 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Shame plays a fundamental role in the regulation of our social behavior. One intriguing question is whether amygdala might play a role in processing this emotion. In the present single-case study, we tested a patient with acquired damage of bilateral amygdalae and surrounding areas as well as healthy controls on shame processing and other social cognitive tasks. Results revealed that the patient's subjective experience of shame, but not of guilt, was more reduced than in controls, only when social standards were violated, while it was not different than controls in case of moral violations. The impairment in discriminating between normal social situations and violations also emerged. Taken together, these findings suggest that the role of the amygdala in processing shame might reflect its relevance in resolving ambiguity and uncertainty, in order to correctly detect social violations and to generate shame feelings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Piretti
- Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- Marica De Vincenzi Onlus Foundation, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pappaianni
- Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | | | - Irene Zorzenon
- Radiology Department, Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maja Ukmar
- Radiology Department, Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Raffaella Ida Rumiati
- Neuroscience and Society Lab, Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Remo Job
- Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- Marica De Vincenzi Onlus Foundation, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Alessandro Grecucci
- Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
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