Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
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 Concept Videos

Role of Amygdala in Memory01:16

Role of Amygdala in Memory

1.4K
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
1.4K
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

8.0K
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...
8.0K
Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

6.8K
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
6.8K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

3.5K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.5K
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

33.4K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
33.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Standardized Pipeline for Metabolism and Cognition in GO-DS21 Mouse Model: Investigating Down Syndrome Comorbidities.

Current protocols·2026
Same author

SEARCHING FOR NEW GENES THAT CAUSE USHER SYNDROME.

American journal of ophthalmology·2026
Same author

Caregiver-Associated Physical Activity Patterns, Dietary Behaviors and Interventional Beliefs in Individuals with Down Syndrome: Insights from a Large European Survey.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

Understanding Obesity in Individuals with Down Syndrome: Caregiver Perceptions, Awareness, and Motivation.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

Impaired vitamin D signaling reveals novel targets in tooth and alveolar bone.

Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research·2026
Same author

Prefrontal long-range somatostatin inhibitory projections modulate fear expression.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices
11:13

Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices

Published on: April 5, 2016

16.9K

Synaptic dysfunction in amygdala in intellectual disorder models.

Marianne Aincy1, Hamid Meziane2, Yann Herault3

  • 1Team "synapse in cognition", UMR 5297, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Team "synapse in cognition", UMR 5297, Centre National de la recherche scientifique, Bordeaux, France.

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|August 5, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Intellectual disability genes impact amygdala function, affecting fear learning and synaptic plasticity. Understanding these genetic links is crucial for developing treatments for related neuropsychiatric conditions.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
07:44

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

18.2K
Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism
08:44

Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism

Published on: October 17, 2025

742

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices
11:13

Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices

Published on: April 5, 2016

16.9K
Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
07:44

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

18.2K
Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism
08:44

Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism

Published on: October 17, 2025

742

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • The amygdala, a key brain region for threat processing, is extensively studied for its role in fear conditioning and behavior.
  • Intellectual disabilities (ID) are linked to numerous genes, many encoding synaptic proteins, suggesting potential disruptions in neuronal circuits.
  • Amygdala dysfunction is frequently observed in ID models, but the specific roles of ID genes in amygdala synaptic function remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of syndromic and non-syndromic intellectual disability genes on amygdala-mediated fear behaviors.
  • To explore how deficits in amygdala synaptic function due to ID gene mutations affect memory and fear expression.
  • To highlight the importance of studying ID genes within the amygdala circuit for understanding neuropsychiatric conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on amygdala circuitry and fear conditioning in rodent models.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the effects of ID-associated gene mutations on behavior and synaptic function.
  • Discussion of how synaptic deficits in the amygdala may influence memory and fear.

Main Results:

  • Mutations in ID-associated genes can lead to social deficits, anxiety, and impaired fear learning in mouse models.
  • A significant number of ID gene products are synaptic proteins, implying that their dysfunction can disrupt neuronal balance.
  • While amygdala behavioral deficits are common in ID models, specific synaptic roles of most ID genes are understudied.

Conclusions:

  • Amygdala circuits are critical hubs for processing threats and mediating fear responses.
  • Dysregulation of synaptic function in the amygdala due to ID gene mutations can impair memory formation and fear behavior.
  • Further research into ID genes and amygdala synaptic plasticity is essential for understanding and treating ID-related neuropsychiatric disorders.