Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025
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Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
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A distinct cortical code for socially learned threat
Shana E Silverstein1, Ruairi O'Sullivan2, Olena Bukalo2
1Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. Shana.Silverstein@nih.gov.
Nature
|February 7, 2024
Summary
Observational fear learning (OFL) in mice requires the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). The dmPFC uniquely codes for learned fear from others and controls behavioral responses to threats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Social Learning
Background:
- Animals learn about danger by observing others.
- Observational fear learning (OFL) mechanisms are poorly understood.
- The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is involved in social information processing and threat cue disambiguation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the neural mechanisms of OFL.
- Determine the role of the dmPFC in OFL.
- Understand how the dmPFC generates threat-specific behavioral responses after social observation.
Main Methods:
- Cellular-resolution microendoscopic calcium imaging in mice.
- Neuronal circuit mapping.
- Electrophysiological recordings and optogenetics.
Main Results:
- The dmPFC is recruited and required for OFL in mice.
- dmPFC neurons distinctly code for observational fear compared to direct experience.
- dmPFC activity predicts behavioral state switches (freezing/moving) during threat.
- dmPFC projections to the PAG constrain freezing behavior.
- Amygdalar and hippocampal inputs to dmPFC modulate freezing.
Conclusions:
- The dmPFC computes a distinct neural code for observational fear.
- dmPFC coordinates long-range circuits to select behavioral responses to observed threats.
- This study elucidates the neural basis of social threat learning.
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