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Related Concept Videos

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

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The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
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The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the...
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The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
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Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla01:21

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The medulla oblongata is a crucial part of the brainstem responsible for controlling various autonomic and involuntary functions. It contains several nuclei, including the olivary, cuneate, gracile, and solitary nuclei.
Olivary Nucleus
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The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological...
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The reticular formation is a complex network of gray and white matter located within the brainstem extending from the medulla to the midbrain.
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A Behavioral Assay for Investigating the Role of Spatial Memory During Instinctive Defense in Mice
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Midbrain circuits for defensive behaviour.

Philip Tovote1, Maria Soledad Esposito1,2, Paolo Botta1

  • 1Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.

Nature
|June 10, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers identified a brain circuit controlling freezing behavior, a key survival response. This pathway involves the amygdala and periaqueductal gray, offering insights into defensive behaviors and anxiety disorders.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Biology
  • Circuitry

Background:

  • Understanding the neural basis of defensive behaviors is crucial for survival.
  • Specific brain circuits underlying active and passive defense strategies remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the midbrain periaqueductal gray circuits responsible for executing specific defensive behaviors, particularly freezing.

Main Methods:

  • Optogenetics
  • In vivo and in vitro electrophysiology
  • Neuroanatomical tracing

Main Results:

  • Identified an inhibitory pathway from the central amygdala to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG).
  • This pathway disinhibits vlPAG excitatory outputs to the magnocellular nucleus of the medulla, mediating freezing.
  • Demonstrated interaction between the freezing circuit and circuits controlling flight behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Defined the neuronal circuitry underlying freezing, an evolutionarily conserved defensive behavior.
  • This 'survival circuit' is relevant across species, from fish to primates.
  • Dysregulation of this circuit is implicated in human anxiety-related disorders.