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Related Experiment Video

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Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices
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Plasticity-related genes in brain development and amygdala-dependent learning.

D E Ehrlich1,2, S A Josselyn3,4,5,6

  • 1Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

Genes, Brain, and Behavior
|October 1, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Learning in the immature amygdala activates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), extracellular signaling-related kinases (ERKs), and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB) signaling. This accelerates neural development, increasing amygdala excitability and environmental sensitivity later in life.

Keywords:
AmygdalaBDNFCREBERKGABAcritical perioddevelopmentexcitabilitylearning and memoryplasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The amygdala, a temporal lobe structure, is crucial for learning about motivationally important stimuli.
  • Amygdala-dependent learning involves plasticity-related signaling pathways that are also implicated in brain development.
  • Signaling pathways in juveniles may influence both learning and neural development concurrently.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functions of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), extracellular signaling-related kinases (ERKs), and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway.
  • To discuss the intersection of learning-related and developmental plasticity in the immature amygdala.
  • To propose how learning influences the developmental trajectory of amygdala function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of plasticity-related signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of the roles of BDNF, ERKs, and CREB in nervous system development and amygdala-dependent learning.
  • Discussion of the impact of aversive and appetitive learning on immature amygdala development.

Main Results:

  • The BDNF-ERK-CREB pathway plays pleiotropic roles in both nervous system development and amygdala-dependent learning.
  • Learning-dependent activation of this pathway in the immature amygdala influences its developmental trajectory.
  • This signaling cascade impacts the development of amygdala excitability and environmental sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • Learning in the immature amygdala, via BDNF-ERK-CREB signaling, can exaggerate and accelerate neural development.
  • This process promotes heightened amygdala excitability and environmental sensitivity in later life.
  • The interplay between learning and developmental plasticity in the young amygdala has long-lasting consequences for brain function.