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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices
Published on: April 5, 2016
Wiring and volume transmission in rat amygdala. Implications for fear and anxiety
Miguel Pérez de la Mora1, Kirsten X Jacobsen, Minerva Crespo-Ramírez
1Department of Biophysics, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-253, Mexico, DF, 04510, Mexico. mperez@ifc.unam.mx
Abstract:
The amygdala plays a key role in anxiety. Information from the environment reaches the amygdaloid basolateral nucleus and after its processing is relayed to the amygdaloid central nucleus where a proper anxiogenic response is implemented. Experimental evidence indicates that in this information transfer a GABAergic interface controls the trafficking of impulses between the two nuclei. Recent work indicates that interneuronal communication can take place by classical synaptic transmission (wiring transmission) and by volume transmission in which the neurotransmitter diffuses and flows through the extracellular space from its site of release and binds to extrasynaptic receptors at various distances from the source. Based on evidence from our laboratory the concept is introduced that neurotransmitters in the amygdala can modulate anxiety involving changes in fear learning and memories by effects on receptor mosaics in the fear circuits through wiring and volume transmission modes of communication.
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