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Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices
Published on: April 5, 2016
Amygdala Circuits for Fear Memory: A Key Role for Dopamine Regulation
Joo Han Lee1, Seungho Lee1, Joung-Hun Kim1
11 Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea.
Abstract:
In addition to modulating a number of cognitive functions including reward, punishment, motivation, and salience, dopamine (DA) plays a pivotal role in regulating threat-related emotional memory. Changes in neural circuits of the amygdala nuclei are also critically involved in the acquisition and expression of emotional memory. In this review, we summarize the regulation of amygdala circuits by DA. Specifically, we describe DA signaling in the amygdala, and DA regulation of synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity of the amygdala neurons. Finally, we discuss a potential contribution of DA-related mechanisms to the pathogenesis of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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