An Amygdala Circuit Mediates Experience-Dependent Momentary Arrests during Exploration

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Biology
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• Exploration is crucial for survival and adaptation.
• Exploratory behavior, including pauses, is dynamically modulated by experience.
• Neural circuits must integrate past experiences to guide future actions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying experience-dependent behavioral arrests during spatial exploration.
• To identify specific brain regions and neuronal populations involved in learned pauses.
• To elucidate the circuit dynamics of how past experiences influence ongoing exploratory behavior.

Main Methods:

• Spatial exploration assay in mice.
• In vivo calcium imaging of neuronal activity during free exploration.
• Closed-loop optogenetic manipulation of identified neuronal ensembles.
• Projection-specific circuit tracing and manipulation.

Main Results:

• Animals exhibited increased momentary arrests in previously visited locations.
• A genetically defined neuronal ensemble in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) was active during self-paced arrests.
• This BLA ensemble showed experience-dependent recruitment.
• Optogenetic activation and inhibition confirmed the sufficiency and necessity of these neurons in driving learned arrests.
• BLA neurons projecting to the central amygdala were identified as the key circuit mediating these arrests.

Conclusions:

• The basolateral amygdala contains a circuit that mediates learned, experience-dependent momentary arrests during exploration.
• This circuit enables animals to pause in familiar locations without inducing avoidance or anxiety-like behaviors.
• This finding reveals a novel amygdala pathway involved in integrating spatial memory with ongoing exploratory decisions.