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Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice
Published on: October 27, 2020
BLA to vHPC inputs modulate anxiety-related behaviors
Ada C Felix-Ortiz1, Anna Beyeler, Changwoo Seo
1The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Neuron
|August 27, 2013
Summary
Activating basolateral amygdala (BLA) to ventral hippocampus (vHPC) connections increases anxiety, while inhibiting them reduces anxiety. This study reveals how these pathways control anxiety-related behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and ventral hippocampus (vHPC) are recognized for their roles in anxiety.
- The specific contribution of BLA projections to the vHPC in anxiety remains uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional role of BLA inputs to the vHPC in anxiety-related behaviors.
- To elucidate the local circuit mechanisms underlying BLA projections within the vHPC.
Main Methods:
- Optogenetics was used to activate or inhibit BLA-vHPC synapses.
- In vivo pharmacological manipulations and ex vivo whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were employed.
- Circuit mechanisms were dissected using these combined approaches.
Main Results:
- Activation of BLA-vHPC synapses significantly increased anxiety-related behaviors.
- Inhibition of BLA-vHPC synapses markedly decreased anxiety-related behaviors.
- BLA terminals provide direct glutamatergic excitation to vHPC pyramidal neurons and indirect inhibition via local interneurons.
Conclusions:
- BLA-vHPC synapses play a critical role in bidirectionally regulating anxiety.
- These connections exert immediate and reversible control over anxiety-related behaviors.
- A model for the local circuit function of BLA inputs in the vHPC is proposed.
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