Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Concept Videos

Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness01:14

Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness

Avoidance learning and learned helplessness are critical concepts in understanding behavioral responses to negative stimuli.
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Visual Agnosia01:12

Visual Agnosia

Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round end"...
Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation01:13

Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation

The reticular formation is a complex network of gray and white matter located within the brainstem extending from the medulla to the midbrain.
Within the reticular formation, there are several distinct nuclei that can be classified into three broad categories. The Raphe nuclei are located along the midline of the brainstem. They are primarily known for their role in synthesizing and releasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Medial prefrontal cortex encodes but is not required to generate goal-directed actions under threat.

eLife·2026
Same author

The Subthalamic Nucleus Controls Action Timing under Threat.

eNeuro·2026
Same author

Medial prefrontal cortex encodes but is not required to generate goal-directed actions under threat.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

A forebrain hub for cautious actions via the midbrain.

eLife·2026
Same author

Evolutionary expansion of the corticospinal system is linked to dexterity in <i>Peromyscus</i> mice.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Role of the Nucleus Accumbens in Signaled Avoidance Actions.

eNeuro·2024
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

The Active Place Avoidance (APA) Test, an Effective, Versatile and Repeatable Spatial Learning Task for Mice
06:03

The Active Place Avoidance (APA) Test, an Effective, Versatile and Repeatable Spatial Learning Task for Mice

Published on: February 16, 2024

Neural correlates of active avoidance behavior in superior colliculus.

Jeremy D Cohen1, Manuel A Castro-Alamancos

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|June 25, 2010
PubMed
Summary

The superior colliculus in rats shows increased neural activity during active avoidance behaviors. This brain region is crucial for detecting harmful cues and initiating protective actions.

More Related Videos

A Wireless, Bidirectional Interface for In Vivo Recording and Stimulation of Neural Activity in Freely Behaving Rats
10:41

A Wireless, Bidirectional Interface for In Vivo Recording and Stimulation of Neural Activity in Freely Behaving Rats

Published on: November 7, 2017

Drosophila Passive Avoidance Behavior as a New Paradigm to Study Associative Aversive Learning
06:20

Drosophila Passive Avoidance Behavior as a New Paradigm to Study Associative Aversive Learning

Published on: October 15, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

The Active Place Avoidance (APA) Test, an Effective, Versatile and Repeatable Spatial Learning Task for Mice
06:03

The Active Place Avoidance (APA) Test, an Effective, Versatile and Repeatable Spatial Learning Task for Mice

Published on: February 16, 2024

A Wireless, Bidirectional Interface for In Vivo Recording and Stimulation of Neural Activity in Freely Behaving Rats
10:41

A Wireless, Bidirectional Interface for In Vivo Recording and Stimulation of Neural Activity in Freely Behaving Rats

Published on: November 7, 2017

Drosophila Passive Avoidance Behavior as a New Paradigm to Study Associative Aversive Learning
06:20

Drosophila Passive Avoidance Behavior as a New Paradigm to Study Associative Aversive Learning

Published on: October 15, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

  • Active avoidance of danger is essential for survival.
  • The neural basis for detecting threatening stimuli and initiating avoidance responses remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the superior colliculus in active avoidance behavior.
  • To identify neural correlates of threat detection and response initiation in the superior colliculus.

Main Methods:

  • Recorded neural activity (unit and field potentials) in the intermediate superior colliculus of rats.
  • Utilized an active avoidance task where a whisker conditioned stimulus (WCS) signaled an aversive event.

Main Results:

  • Higher firing rates in the superior colliculus preceded successful avoidance compared to unsuccessful ones (escapes).
  • A significant ramping up of neural firing was observed during the WCS in trials leading to avoidance.
  • This ramping activity was not due to neural "shuttling" and likely drives avoidance behavior.

Conclusions:

  • The superior colliculus plays a critical role in active avoidance.
  • It acts as a key neural substrate for detecting salient sensory cues that trigger immediate protective actions.