Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices
Published on: April 5, 2016
Amygdala inhibitory circuits and the control of fear memory
Ingrid Ehrlich1, Yann Humeau, François Grenier
1Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Classical fear conditioning is a powerful behavioral paradigm that is widely used to study the neuronal substrates of learning and memory. Previous studies have clearly identified the amygdala as a key brain structure for acquisition and storage of fear memory traces. Whereas the majority of this work has focused on principal cells and glutamatergic transmission and its plasticity, recent studies have started to shed light on the intricate roles of local inhibitory circuits. Here, we review current understanding and emerging concepts of how local inhibitory circuits in the amygdala control the acquisition, expression, and extinction of conditioned fear at different levels.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Amygdala in Memory
One of the...
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions
Traumatic Memory
Physiology of Emotion
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
Feedback Inhibition

