1
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Bress KS, Cascio CJ. Sensorimotor regulation of facial expression - An untouched frontier. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105684. [PMID: 38710425 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Facial expression is a critical form of nonverbal social communication which promotes emotional exchange and affiliation among humans. Facial expressions are generated via precise contraction of the facial muscles, guided by sensory feedback. While the neural pathways underlying facial motor control are well characterized in humans and primates, it remains unknown how tactile and proprioceptive information reaches these pathways to guide facial muscle contraction. Thus, despite the importance of facial expressions for social functioning, little is known about how they are generated as a unique sensorimotor behavior. In this review, we highlight current knowledge about sensory feedback from the face and how it is distinct from other body regions. We describe connectivity between the facial sensory and motor brain systems, and call attention to the other brain systems which influence facial expression behavior, including vision, gustation, emotion, and interoception. Finally, we petition for more research on the sensory basis of facial expressions, asserting that incomplete understanding of sensorimotor mechanisms is a barrier to addressing atypical facial expressivity in clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly S Bress
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Carissa J Cascio
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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2
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Petrosini L, Picerni E, Termine A, Fabrizio C, Laricchiuta D, Cutuli D. The Cerebellum as an Embodying Machine. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:229-246. [PMID: 36052895 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221120187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Whereas emotion theorists often keep their distance from the embodied approach, theorists of embodiment tend to treat emotion as a mainly physiologic process. However, intimate links between emotions and the body suggest that emotions are privileged phenomena to attempt to reintegrate mind and body and that the body helps the mind in shaping emotional responses. To date, research has favored the cerebrum over other parts of the brain as a substrate of embodied emotions. However, given the widely demonstrated contribution of the cerebellum to emotional processing, research in affective neuroscience should consider embodiment theory as a useful approach for evaluating the cerebellar role in emotion and affect. The aim of this review is to insert the cerebellum among the structures needed to embody emotions, providing illustrative examples of cerebellar involvement in embodied emotions (as occurring in empathic abilities) and in impaired identification and expression of embodied emotions (as occurring in alexithymia).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Debora Cutuli
- Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
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3
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Terburg D, van Honk J, Schutter DJLG. Doubling down on dual systems: A cerebellum-amygdala route towards action- and outcome-based social and affective behavior. Cortex 2024; 173:175-186. [PMID: 38417390 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The amygdala and cerebellum are both evolutionary preserved brain structures containing cortical as well as subcortical properties. For decades, the amygdala has been considered the fear-center of the brain, but recent advances have shown that the amygdala acts as a critical hub between cortical and subcortical systems and shapes social and affective behaviors beyond fear. Likewise, the cerebellum is a dedicated control unit that fine-tunes motor behavior to fit contextual requirements. There is however increasing evidence that the cerebellum strongly influences subcortical as well as cortical processes beyond the motor domain. These insights broadened the view on the cerebellum's functions to also include social and affective behavior. Here we explore how the amygdala and cerebellum might interact in shaping social and affective behaviors based on their roles in threat reactivity and reinforcement learning. A novel mechanistic neural framework of cerebellum-amygdala interactions will be presented which provides testable hypotheses for future social and affective neuroscientific research in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Terburg
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Jack van Honk
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, South Africa
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4
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Ellmers TJ, Durkin M, Sriranganathan K, Harris DJ, Bronstein AM. The influence of postural threat-induced anxiety on locomotor learning and updating. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:562-575. [PMID: 38324891 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00364.2023] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to adapt our locomotion in a feedforward (i.e., "predictive") manner is crucial for safe and efficient walking behavior. Equally important is the ability to quickly deadapt and update behavior that is no longer appropriate for the given context. It has been suggested that anxiety induced via postural threat may play a fundamental role in disrupting such deadaptation. We tested this hypothesis, using the "broken escalator" phenomenon: Fifty-six healthy young adults walked onto a stationary walkway ("BEFORE" condition, 5 trials), then onto a moving walkway akin to an airport travelator ("MOVING" condition, 10 trials), and then again onto the stationary walkway ("AFTER" condition, 5 trials). Participants completed all trials while wearing a virtual reality headset, which was used to induce postural threat-related anxiety (raised clifflike drop at the end of the walkway) during different phases of the paradigm. We found that performing the locomotor adaptation phase in a state of increased threat disrupted subsequent deadaptation during AFTER trials: These participants displayed anticipatory muscular activity as if expecting the platform to move and exhibited inappropriate anticipatory forward trunk movement that persisted during multiple AFTER trials. In contrast, postural threat induced during AFTER trials did not affect behavioral or neurophysiological outcomes. These findings highlight that actions learned in the presence of postural threat-induced anxiety are strengthened, leading to difficulties in deadapting these behaviors when no longer appropriate. Given the associations between anxiety and persistent maladaptive gait behaviors (e.g., "overly cautious" gait, functional gait disorders), the findings have implications for the understanding of such conditions.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Safe and efficient locomotion frequently requires movements to be adapted in a feedforward (i.e., "predictive") manner. These adaptations are not always correct, and thus inappropriate behavior must be quickly updated. Here we showed that increased threat disrupts this process. We found that locomotor actions learned in the presence of postural threat-induced anxiety are strengthened, subsequently impairing one's ability to update (or "deadapt") these actions when they are no longer appropriate for the current context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby J Ellmers
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Morgan Durkin
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karthigan Sriranganathan
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David J Harris
- Public Health and Sport Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Adolfo M Bronstein
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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5
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Batsikadze G, Pakusch J, Klein M, Ernst TM, Thieme A, Nicksirat SA, Steiner KM, Nio E, Genc E, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Merz CJ, Quick HH, Mark MD, Timmann D. Mild Deficits in Fear Learning: Evidence from Humans and Mice with Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0365-23.2023. [PMID: 38176906 PMCID: PMC10897646 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0365-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional brain imaging studies in humans suggest involvement of the cerebellum in fear conditioning but do not allow conclusions about the functional significance. The main aim of the present study was to examine whether patients with cerebellar degeneration show impaired fear conditioning and whether this is accompanied by alterations in cerebellar cortical activations. To this end, a 2 d differential fear conditioning study was conducted in 20 cerebellar patients and 21 control subjects using a 7 tesla (7 T) MRI system. Fear acquisition and extinction training were performed on day 1, followed by recall on day 2. Cerebellar patients learned to differentiate between the CS+ and CS-. Acquisition and consolidation of learned fear, however, was slowed. Additionally, extinction learning appeared to be delayed. The fMRI signal was reduced in relation to the prediction of the aversive stimulus and altered in relation to its unexpected omission. Similarly, mice with cerebellar cortical degeneration (spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, SCA6) were able to learn the fear association, but retrieval of fear memory was reduced. In sum, cerebellar cortical degeneration led to mild abnormalities in the acquisition of learned fear responses in both humans and mice, particularly manifesting postacquisition training. Future research is warranted to investigate the basis of altered fMRI signals related to fear learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgi Batsikadze
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Johanna Pakusch
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael Klein
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas Michael Ernst
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas Thieme
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Seyed Ali Nicksirat
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Katharina Marie Steiner
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- LVR-Hospital Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Enzo Nio
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Erhan Genc
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stefan Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Cornelius Deuschl
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology and C-TNBS, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Josef Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Melanie D Mark
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
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6
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Rudolph S, Badura A, Lutzu S, Pathak SS, Thieme A, Verpeut JL, Wagner MJ, Yang YM, Fioravante D. Cognitive-Affective Functions of the Cerebellum. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7554-7564. [PMID: 37940582 PMCID: PMC10634583 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1451-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum, traditionally associated with motor coordination and balance, also plays a crucial role in various aspects of higher-order function and dysfunction. Emerging research has shed light on the cerebellum's broader contributions to cognitive, emotional, and reward processes. The cerebellum's influence on autonomic function further highlights its significance in regulating motivational and emotional states. Perturbations in cerebellar development and function have been implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. An increasing appreciation for neuropsychiatric symptoms that arise from cerebellar dysfunction underscores the importance of elucidating the circuit mechanisms that underlie complex interactions between the cerebellum and other brain regions for a comprehensive understanding of complex behavior. By briefly discussing new advances in mapping cerebellar function in affective, cognitive, autonomic, and social processing and reviewing the role of the cerebellum in neuropathology beyond the motor domain, this Mini-Symposium review aims to provide a broad perspective of cerebellar intersections with the limbic brain in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Rudolph
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York 10461
| | - Aleksandra Badura
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Stefano Lutzu
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York 10461
| | - Salil Saurav Pathak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota 55812
| | - Andreas Thieme
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen, D-45147, Germany
| | - Jessica L Verpeut
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287
| | - Mark J Wagner
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
| | - Yi-Mei Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota 55812
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Diasynou Fioravante
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95618
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95618
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7
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McAfee SS, Robinson G, Gajjar A, Zhang S, Bag AK, Raches D, Conklin HM, Khan RB, Scoggins MA. Cerebellar mutism is linked to midbrain volatility and desynchronization from speech cortices. Brain 2023; 146:4755-4765. [PMID: 37343136 PMCID: PMC10629755 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar mutism syndrome is a disorder of speech, movement and affect that can occur after tumour removal from the posterior fossa. Projections from the fastigial nuclei to the periaqueductal grey area were recently implicated in its pathogenesis, but the functional consequences of damaging these projections remain poorly understood. Here, we examine functional MRI data from patients treated for medulloblastoma to identify functional changes in key brain areas that comprise the motor system for speech, which occur along the timeline of acute speech impairment in cerebellar mutism syndrome. One hundred and twenty-four participants, all with medulloblastoma, contributed to the study: 45 with cerebellar mutism syndrome, 11 patients with severe postoperative deficits other than mutism, and 68 without either (asymptomatic). We first performed a data-driven parcellation to spatially define functional nodes relevant to the cohort that align with brain regions critical for the motor control of speech. We then estimated functional connectivity between these nodes during the initial postoperative imaging sessions to identify functional deficits associated with the acute phase of the disorder. We further analysed how functional connectivity changed over time within a subset of participants that had suitable imaging acquired over the course of recovery. Signal dispersion was also measured in the periaqueductal grey area and red nuclei to estimate activity in midbrain regions considered key targets of the cerebellum with suspected involvement in cerebellar mutism pathogenesis. We found evidence of periaqueductal grey dysfunction in the acute phase of the disorder, with abnormal volatility and desynchronization with neocortical language nodes. Functional connectivity with periaqueductal grey was restored in imaging sessions that occurred after speech recovery and was further shown to be increased with left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The amygdalae were also broadly hyperconnected with neocortical nodes in the acute phase. Stable connectivity differences between groups were broadly present throughout the cerebrum, and one of the most substantial differences-between Broca's area and the supplementary motor area-was found to be inversely related to cerebellar outflow pathway damage in the mutism group. These results reveal systemic changes in the speech motor system of patients with mutism, centred on limbic areas tasked with the control of phonation. These findings provide further support for the hypothesis that periaqueductal grey dysfunction (following cerebellar surgical injury) contributes to the transient postoperative non-verbal episode commonly observed in cerebellar mutism syndrome but highlights a potential role of intact cerebellocortical projections in chronic features of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S McAfee
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Giles Robinson
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Amar Gajjar
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Silu Zhang
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Asim K Bag
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Darcy Raches
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Heather M Conklin
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Raja B Khan
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Matthew A Scoggins
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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Chen CH, Newman LN, Stark AP, Bond KE, Zhang D, Nardone S, Vanderburg CR, Nadaf NM, Yao Z, Mutume K, Flaquer I, Lowell BB, Macosko EZ, Regehr WG. A Purkinje cell to parabrachial nucleus pathway enables broad cerebellar influence over the forebrain. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1929-1941. [PMID: 37919612 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01462-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
In addition to its motor functions, the cerebellum is involved in emotional regulation, anxiety and affect. We found that suppressing the firing of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) rapidly excites forebrain areas that contribute to such functions (including the amygdala, basal forebrain and septum), but that the classic cerebellar outputs, the deep cerebellar nuclei, do not directly project there. We show that PCs directly inhibit parabrachial nuclei (PBN) neurons that project to numerous forebrain regions. Suppressing the PC-PBN pathway influences many regions in the forebrain and is aversive. Molecular profiling shows that PCs directly inhibit numerous types of PBN neurons that control diverse behaviors that are not involved in motor control. Therefore, the PC-PBN pathway allows the cerebellum to directly regulate activity in the forebrain, and may be an important substrate for cerebellar disorders arising from damage to the posterior vermis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Leannah N Newman
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amanda P Stark
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine E Bond
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dawei Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefano Nardone
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles R Vanderburg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Naeem M Nadaf
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Zhiyi Yao
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kefiloe Mutume
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabella Flaquer
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradford B Lowell
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evan Z Macosko
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wade G Regehr
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Stanca S, Rossetti M, Bongioanni P. The Cerebellum's Role in Affective Disorders: The Onset of Its Social Dimension. Metabolites 2023; 13:1113. [PMID: 37999209 PMCID: PMC10672979 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13111113] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) are the most frequent mental disorders whose indeterminate etiopathogenesis spurs to explore new aetiologic scenarios. In light of the neuropsychiatric symptoms characterizing Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome (CCAS), the objective of this narrative review is to analyze the involvement of the cerebellum (Cbm) in the onset of these conditions. It aims at detecting the repercussions of the Cbm activities on mood disorders based on its functional subdivision in vestibulocerebellum (vCbm), pontocerebellum (pCbm) and spinocerebellum (sCbm). Despite the Cbm having been, for decades, associated with somato-motor functions, the described intercellular pathways, without forgiving the molecular impairment and the alteration in the volumetric relationships, make the Cbm a new important therapeutic target for MDD and BD. Given that numerous studies have showed its activation during mnestic activities and socio-emotional events, this review highlights in the Cbm, in which the altered external space perception (vCbm) is strictly linked to the cognitive-limbic Cbm (pCbm and sCbm), a crucial role in the MDD and BD pathogenesis. Finally, by the analysis of the cerebellar activity, this study aims at underlying not only the Cbm involvement in affective disorders, but also its role in social relationship building.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Stanca
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- NeuroCare Onlus, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Rossetti
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- NeuroCare Onlus, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Bongioanni
- NeuroCare Onlus, 56100 Pisa, Italy
- Medical Specialties Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56100 Pisa, Italy
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10
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Matrone C, Ferretti G. Semaphorin 3A influences neuronal processes that are altered in patients with autism spectrum disorder: Potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105338. [PMID: 37524141 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105338] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive disorder that most frequently manifests in early childhood and lasts for their entire lifespan. Several behavioural traits characterise the phenotype of patients with ASD, including difficulties in reciprocal social communication as well as compulsive/repetitive stereotyped verbal and non-verbal behaviours. Although multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain the aetiology of ASD and many resources have been used to improve our understanding of ASD, several aspects remain largely unexplored. Class 3 semaphorins (SEMA3) are secreted proteins involved in the organisation of structural and functional connectivity in the brain that regulate synaptic and dendritic development. Alterations in brain connectivity and aberrant neuronal development have been described in some patients with ASD. Mutations and polymorphisms in SEMA3A and alterations in its receptors and signalling have been associated with some neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and epilepsy, which are comorbidities in ASD, but also with ASD itself. In addition, SEMA3A is a key regulator of the immune response and neuroinflammatory processes, which have been found to be dysregulated in mothers of children who develop ASD and in affected patients. In this review, we highlight neurodevelopmental-related processes in which SEMA3A is involved, which are altered in ASD, and provide a viewpoint emphasising the development of strategies targeting changes in the SEMA3A signal to identify patterns of anomalies distinctive of ASD or to predict the prognosis of affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Matrone
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Ferretti
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
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11
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Zamudio PA, Gioia D, Glaser C, Woodward JJ. Chemogenetic Perturbation of the Posterior But Not Anterior Cerebellum Reduces Voluntary Ethanol Consumption. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0037-23.2023. [PMID: 37679043 PMCID: PMC10512884 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0037-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum communicates with brain areas critically involved in control of goal-directed behaviors including the prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices and midbrain and basal ganglia structures. In particular, the posterior cerebellum is important for cognitive flexibility and has been implicated in alcohol and drug-related memory. We hypothesized that the cerebellum, through its multiple connections to reward-related brain circuitry, regulates alcohol consumption. To test this, we expressed inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) in molecular layer interneurons (MLIs) in anterior (IV-V) or posterior (VI-VIII) cerebellar lobules of male and female mice and activated them during alcohol drinking sessions. In a home-cage drinking paradigm, alcohol consumption was significantly decreased by clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) or deschloroclozapine (DCZ) administration in male mice expressing DREADDs in posterior but not anterior lobules. CNO/DCZ injections did not affect drinking in DREADD expressing female mice or in male mice expressing the control vector. Activation of DREADDs expressed in anterior or posterior lobules had no effect on sucrose or quinine consumption in male or female mice. During operant self-administration sessions, DCZ decreased the number of licks and bouts in male but not female mice expressing DREADDs in posterior lobules with no effect in control vector mice. Performance on an accelerated rotarod was unaffected by chemogenetic manipulation while distance traveled in the open field was decreased by DREADD activation in anterior but not posterior lobules. These results indicate that neuronal activity within the posterior cerebellar cortex plays an important role in the control of alcohol consumption in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula A Zamudio
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Dominic Gioia
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Christina Glaser
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - John J Woodward
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
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12
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Tomé-Fernández M, Berbegal-Bernabeu M, Sánchez-Sansegundo M, Zaragoza-Martí A, Rubio-Aparicio M, Portilla-Tamarit I, Rumbo-Rodríguez L, Hurtado-Sánchez JA. Neurocognitive Suicide and Homicide Markers in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:446. [PMID: 37366698 DOI: 10.3390/bs13060446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicide and homicide are considered important problems in public health. This study aims to identify the cognitive performance of suicidal and homicidal behaviors in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, as well as examining whether there are shared neuropsychological mechanisms. A systematic review of the recent literature was carried out from September 2012 to June 2022 using the Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Among the 870 studies initially identified, 23 were finally selected (15 related to suicidal behaviors and 8 to homicidal behaviors). The results evidenced a relationship between impairment of cognitive performance and homicidal behavior; meanwhile, for suicidal behaviors, no consistent results were found. High neuropsychological performance seems to act as a protective factor against violent behavior in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but not against suicidal behavior; indeed, it can even act as a risk factor for suicidal behavior. To date, there is insufficient evidence that shared neurocognitive mechanisms exist. However, processing speed and visual memory seem to be affected in the presence of both behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Tomé-Fernández
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Marina Berbegal-Bernabeu
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Miriam Sánchez-Sansegundo
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Ana Zaragoza-Martí
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - María Rubio-Aparicio
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Irene Portilla-Tamarit
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Lorena Rumbo-Rodríguez
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
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13
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Streng ML, Froula JM, Krook-Magnuson E. The cerebellum's understated role and influences in the epilepsies. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 183:106160. [PMID: 37209926 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106160] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, but current treatment options leave as many as half of all epilepsy patients with uncontrolled seizures. In addition to the burden of the seizures themselves, chronic epilepsy can be associated with cognitive deficits, structural changes, and devastating negative outcomes such as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Thus, major challenges in epilepsy research surround the need to both develop new therapeutic targets for intervention as well as shed light on the mechanisms by which chronic epilepsy can lead to comorbidities and negative outcomes. Despite not being traditionally associated with epilepsy or seizures, the cerebellum has emerged as not only a brain region that can serve as an important target for seizure control, but one that may also be profoundly impacted by chronic epilepsy. Here, we discuss targeting the cerebellum for potential therapeutic intervention and discuss pathway insights gained from recent optogenetic studies. We then review observations of cerebellar alterations during seizures and in chronic epilepsy, as well as the potential for the cerebellum to be a seizure focus. Cerebellar alterations in epilepsy may be critical to patient outcomes, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the cerebellum in the epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha L Streng
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Jessica M Froula
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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14
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Huang X, Zhuo Y, Wang X, Xu J, Yang Z, Zhou Y, Lv H, Ma X, Yan B, Zhao H, Yu H. Structural and functional improvement of amygdala sub-regions in postpartum depression after acupuncture. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1163746. [PMID: 37266323 PMCID: PMC10229903 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1163746] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to analyze the changes in structure and function in amygdala sub-regions in patients with postpartum depression (PPD) before and after acupuncture. Methods A total of 52 patients with PPD (All-PPD group) were included in this trial, 22 of which completed 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment (Acu-PPD group). An age-matched control group of 24 healthy postpartum women (HPW) from the hospital and community were also included. Results from the 17-Hamilton Depression Scale (17-HAMD) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were evaluated, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were performed at baseline and after the acupuncture treatment. Sub-regions of the amygdala were used as seed regions to measure gray matter volume (GMV) and analyzed for resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) values separately. Finally, correlation analyses were performed on all patients with PPD to evaluate association values between the clinical scale scores, GMV, and RSFC values, while controlling for age and education. Pearson's correlation analyses were conducted to investigate the relevance between GMV and RSFC values of brain regions that differed before and after acupuncture treatment and clinical scale scores in Acu-PPD patients. Results The HAMD scores for Acu-PPD were reduced after acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05), suggesting the positive effects of acupuncture on depression symptoms. Structurally, the All-PPD group showed significantly decreased GMV in the left lateral part of the amygdala (lAMG.L) and the right lateral part of the amygdala (lAMG.R) compared to the HPW group (P < 0.05). In addition, the GMV of lAMG.R was marginally increased in the Acu-PPD group after acupuncture (P < 0.05). Functionally, the Acu-PPD group showed a significantly enhanced RSFC between the left medial part of the amygdala (mAMG.L) and the left vermis_6, an increased RSFC between the right medial part of the amygdala (mAMG.R) and left vermis_6, and an increased RSFC between the lAMG.R and left cerebelum_crus1 (P < 0.05). Moreover, correlation studies revealed that the GMV in the lAMG.R was significantly related to the EPDS scores in the All-PPD group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that the structure of amygdala sub-regions is impaired in patients with PPD. Acupuncture may improve depressive symptoms in patients with PPD, and the mechanism may be attributed to changes in the amygdala sub-region structure and the functional connections of brain areas linked to the processing of negative emotions. The fMRI-based technique can provide comprehensive neuroimaging evidence to visualize the central mechanism of action of acupuncture in PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxian Huang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Applied Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhuo
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Applied Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinru Wang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinping Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhuoxin Yang
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Applied Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yumei Zhou
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Applied Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hanqing Lv
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoming Ma
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Applied Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Yan
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Applied Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hong Zhao
- Luohu District of Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haibo Yu
- Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Applied Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen, China
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15
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Ciapponi C, Li Y, Osorio Becerra DA, Rodarie D, Casellato C, Mapelli L, D’Angelo E. Variations on the theme: focus on cerebellum and emotional processing. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1185752. [PMID: 37234065 PMCID: PMC10206087 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1185752] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum operates exploiting a complex modular organization and a unified computational algorithm adapted to different behavioral contexts. Recent observations suggest that the cerebellum is involved not just in motor but also in emotional and cognitive processing. It is therefore critical to identify the specific regional connectivity and microcircuit properties of the emotional cerebellum. Recent studies are highlighting the differential regional localization of genes, molecules, and synaptic mechanisms and microcircuit wiring. However, the impact of these regional differences is not fully understood and will require experimental investigation and computational modeling. This review focuses on the cellular and circuit underpinnings of the cerebellar role in emotion. And since emotion involves an integration of cognitive, somatomotor, and autonomic activity, we elaborate on the tradeoff between segregation and distribution of these three main functions in the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ciapponi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Yuhe Li
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Dimitri Rodarie
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Centro Ricerche Enrico Fermi, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Casellato
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lisa Mapelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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16
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Urrutia Desmaison JD, Sala RW, Ayyaz A, Nondhalee P, Popa D, Léna C. Cerebellar control of fear learning via the cerebellar nuclei-Multiple pathways, multiple mechanisms? Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1176668. [PMID: 37229350 PMCID: PMC10203220 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1176668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear learning is mediated by a large network of brain structures and the understanding of their roles and interactions is constantly progressing. There is a multitude of anatomical and behavioral evidence on the interconnection of the cerebellar nuclei to other structures in the fear network. Regarding the cerebellar nuclei, we focus on the coupling of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus to the fear network and the relation of the cerebellar dentate nucleus to the ventral tegmental area. Many of the fear network structures that receive direct projections from the cerebellar nuclei are playing a role in fear expression or in fear learning and fear extinction learning. We propose that the cerebellum, via its projections to the limbic system, acts as a modulator of fear learning and extinction learning, using prediction-error signaling and regulation of fear related thalamo-cortical oscillations.
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17
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da Silva GN, Seiffert N, Tovote P. Cerebellar contribution to the regulation of defensive states. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1160083. [PMID: 37064160 PMCID: PMC10102664 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1160083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite fine tuning voluntary movement as the most prominently studied function of the cerebellum, early human studies suggested cerebellar involvement emotion regulation. Since, the cerebellum has been associated with various mood and anxiety-related conditions. Research in animals provided evidence for cerebellar contributions to fear memory formation and extinction. Fear and anxiety can broadly be referred to as defensive states triggered by threat and characterized by multimodal adaptations such as behavioral and cardiac responses integrated into an intricately orchestrated defense reaction. This is mediated by an evolutionary conserved, highly interconnected network of defense-related structures with functional connections to the cerebellum. Projections from the deep cerebellar nucleus interpositus to the central amygdala interfere with retention of fear memory. Several studies uncovered tight functional connections between cerebellar deep nuclei and pyramis and the midbrain periaqueductal grey. Specifically, the fastigial nucleus sends direct projections to the ventrolateral PAG to mediate fear-evoked innate and learned freezing behavior. The cerebellum also regulates cardiovascular responses such as blood pressure and heart rate-effects dependent on connections with medullary cardiac regulatory structures. Because of the integrated, multimodal nature of defensive states, their adaptive regulation has to be highly dynamic to enable responding to a moving threatening stimulus. In this, predicting threat occurrence are crucial functions of calculating adequate responses. Based on its role in prediction error generation, its connectivity to limbic regions, and previous results on a role in fear learning, this review presents the cerebellum as a regulator of integrated cardio-behavioral defensive states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Neubert da Silva
- Defense Circuits Lab, Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nina Seiffert
- Defense Circuits Lab, Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Philip Tovote
- Defense Circuits Lab, Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Center for Mental Health, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Philip Tovote,
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18
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Doubliez A, Nio E, Senovilla-Sanz F, Spatharioti V, Apps R, Timmann D, Lawrenson CL. The cerebellum and fear extinction: evidence from rodent and human studies. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1166166. [PMID: 37152612 PMCID: PMC10160380 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1166166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the cerebellum in emotional control has gained increasing interest, with studies showing it is involved in fear learning and memory in both humans and rodents. This review will focus on the contributions of the cerebellum to the extinction of learned fear responses. Extinction of fearful memories is critical for adaptive behaviour, and is clinically relevant to anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, in which deficits in extinction processes are thought to occur. We present evidence that supports cerebellar involvement in fear extinction, from rodent studies that investigate molecular mechanisms and functional connectivity with other brain regions of the known fear extinction network, to fMRI studies in humans. This evidence is considered in relation to the theoretical framework that the cerebellum is involved in the formation and updating of internal models of the inner and outer world by detecting errors between predicted and actual outcomes. In the case of fear conditioning, these internal models are thought to predict the occurrence of an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US), and when the aversive US is unexpectedly omitted during extinction learning the cerebellum uses prediction errors to update the internal model. Differences between human and rodent studies are highlighted to help inform future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Doubliez
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Enzo Nio
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Fernando Senovilla-Sanz
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Vasiliki Spatharioti
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Apps
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Charlotte L. Lawrenson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Charlotte L. Lawrenson,
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19
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LaBar KS. Neuroimaging of Fear Extinction. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 64:79-101. [PMID: 37455302 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Extinguishing fear and defensive responses to environmental threats when they are no longer warranted is a critical learning ability that can promote healthy self-regulation and, ultimately, reduce susceptibility to or maintenance of affective-, trauma-, stressor-,and anxiety-related disorders. Neuroimaging tools provide an important means to uncover the neural mechanisms of effective extinction learning that, in turn, can abate the return of fear. Here I review the promises and pitfalls of functional neuroimaging as a method to investigate fear extinction circuitry in the healthy human brain. I discuss the extent to which neuroimaging has validated the core circuits implicated in rodent models and has expanded the scope of the brain regions implicated in extinction processes. Finally, I present new advances made possible by multivariate data analysis tools that yield more refined insights into the brain-behavior relationships involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin S LaBar
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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20
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van Hoogstraten WS, Lute MCC, Nusselder H, Kros L, van den Maagdenberg AMJM, De Zeeuw CI. cATR Tracing Approach to Identify Individual Intermediary Neurons Based on Their Input and Output: A Proof-of-Concept Study Connecting Cerebellum and Central Hubs Implicated in Developmental Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:cells11192978. [PMID: 36230940 PMCID: PMC9562212 DOI: 10.3390/cells11192978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, it has become increasingly clear that many neurodevelopmental disorders can be characterized by aberrations in the neuro-anatomical connectome of intermediary hubs. Yet, despite the advent in unidirectional transsynaptic tracing technologies, we are still lacking an efficient approach to identify individual neurons based on both their precise input and output relations, hampering our ability to elucidate the precise connectome in both the healthy and diseased condition. Here, we bridge this gap by combining anterograde transsynaptic- and retrograde (cATR) tracing in Ai14 reporter mice, using adeno-associated virus serotype 1 expressing Cre and cholera toxin subunit B as the anterograde and retrograde tracer, respectively. We have applied this innovative approach to selectively identify individual neurons in the brainstem that do not only receive input from one or more of the cerebellar nuclei (CN), but also project to the primary motor cortex (M1), the amygdala or the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Cells directly connecting CN to M1 were found mainly in the thalamus, while a large diversity of midbrain and brainstem areas connected the CN to the amygdala or VTA. Our data highlight that cATR allows for specific, yet brain-wide, identification of individual neurons that mediate information from a cerebellar nucleus to the cerebral cortex, amygdala or VTA via a disynaptic pathway. Given that the identified neurons in healthy subjects can be readily quantified, our data also form a solid foundation to make numerical comparisons with mouse mutants suffering from aberrations in their connectome due to a neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marit C. C. Lute
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hugo Nusselder
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Kros
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arn M. J. M. van den Maagdenberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chris I. De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, NIN-KNAW, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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