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

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic01:15

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic

5.7K
Nicotinic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by acetylcholine and nicotine. Upon activation, they cause a rapid increase in the permeability of cells to K+, Na+, and Ca2+, followed by depolarization and excitation. They are in the autonomic ganglia, skeletal neuromuscular junction, CNS, and adrenal medulla.
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
5.7K
Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction01:24

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction

1.4K
Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
1.4K
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

1.3K
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
1.3K
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

1.4K
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.4K
Functional Groups02:45

Functional Groups

88.9K
Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of that molecule. For example, the presence of certain functional groups on a molecule will make them hydrophilic, whereas others will make them hydrophobic. These functional groups are an indispensable part of organic chemistry and important components of biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each...
88.9K
Functional Groups02:45

Functional Groups

24.5K
24.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Refining drug screening with automated home cage monitoring: a crossover study in socially housed rats.

Frontiers in toxicology·2026
Same author

Dopamine and Acetylcholine in the Striatum: Circuit Interactions and Behavioral Control in Substance Use Disorders.

Brain sciences·2026
Same author

Consumption of Reinforcing Solutions Engages Dynamic Activity of the Prelimbic Cortical Outputs.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Cellular and systemic sequelae of adolescent social stress: An overview of rodent research.

Behavioral neuroscience·2026
Same author

Dorsolateral striatal acetylcholine reorganizes neural ensembles to anticipate threat.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Novelty Influences Dopamine Responses to Conditioned and Unconditioned Aversive Stimuli over Extended Temporal Windows.

eNeuro·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons
12:19

Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons

Published on: June 24, 2015

9.5K

Nicotine modulates contextual fear extinction through changes in ventral hippocampal GABAergic function.

Munir Gunes Kutlu1, David A Connor2, Jessica M Tumolo3

  • 1The Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.

Neuropharmacology
|September 1, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Nicotine impairs fear extinction by disrupting ventral hippocampus function, impacting GABAergic signaling and neuronal excitability. This research clarifies mechanisms linking nicotine addiction and anxiety disorders.

Keywords:
Fear extinctionGABAHippocampusNicotinic receptorsPTSD

More Related Videos

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
11:17

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear

Published on: August 24, 2012

36.2K
Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice
19:32

Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice

Published on: March 1, 2014

52.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons
12:19

Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons

Published on: June 24, 2015

9.5K
Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
11:17

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear

Published on: August 24, 2012

36.2K
Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice
19:32

Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice

Published on: March 1, 2014

52.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Anxiety and stress disorders are linked to impaired fear extinction.
  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a role in anxiety, but their specific function in fear extinction is unclear.
  • Understanding nAChR involvement in fear extinction is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of nAChRs, specifically nicotine, in contextual fear extinction.
  • To identify the brain regions involved in nicotine's effects on fear extinction.
  • To explore the neurochemical mechanisms underlying nicotine-induced fear extinction deficits.

Main Methods:

  • Systemic and local nicotine administration in mice during contextual fear extinction.
  • Measurement of c-fos expression to assess neuronal activity in key brain regions (hippocampus, mPFC, amygdala).
  • Quantification of GABA synthesizing enzymes (GAD65/67) and double immunofluorescence for c-fos and GAD65/67 in the hippocampus.

Main Results:

  • Systemic nicotine increased c-fos in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA).
  • Local nicotine infusions into the vHPC and prelimbic cortex (PL) impaired fear extinction.
  • Nicotine downregulated GAD65/67 protein levels in the vHPC, correlating negatively with fear extinction.
  • Nicotine increased c-fos in non-GABAergic vHPC cells, suggesting increased excitability.

Conclusions:

  • Acute nicotine impairs contextual fear extinction, primarily through effects on the ventral hippocampus.
  • Nicotine-induced ventral hippocampal disinhibition, evidenced by reduced GABAergic signaling and increased neuronal excitability, underlies fear extinction deficits.
  • These findings elucidate novel neural mechanisms connecting nicotine use, fear extinction, and anxiety disorders.