The amygdala is critical for fear processing and fear regulation. The central amygdala (CeA), once viewed as a passive relay between the amygdala complex and downstream fear effectors, has emerged as an active participant in fear learning. In particular, neurons in the lateral subdivision of the CeA (CeL), which tonically inhibits the medial subdivision of CeA (CeM) and thereby gates fear expression, are thought to encode learned fear. However, the mechanisms by which CeL contributes to fear learning remain unknown. In addition, the link between the role of CeL in fear learning and its known role in fear expression is also unclear. The objective of the proposed project is to elucidate the mechanisms by which the central amygdala contributes to fear learning and orchestrates fear expression in Pavlovian fear conditioning. We will focus on distinct classes of inhibitory neurons in the CeL. Our central hypothesis is that fear conditioning induces cell type-specific synaptic modifications in CeL circuits that serve as fear memory traces. We further propose that these memory traces act to promote the inhibition of CeL output during fear memory recall, thereby disinhibiting CeM and releasing fear expression. We designed an integrated approach, combining molecular genetic tools, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, and optogenetic and chemical-genetic techniques, to test our hypotheses in the following Specific Aims: 1) to delineate the functional organization of the CeA inhibitory circuits; 2) to determine the mechanisms of the fear conditioning-induced synaptic plasticity in CeL; and 3) to determine the role of specific CeL inhibitory circuits in fear conditioning. Findings from this project will have important clinical implications, as dysfunction of fear regulation mechanisms is implicated in a number of psychiatric conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Public Health Relevance

The neural mechanisms of fear processing and fear regulation remain unclear. In the proposed research program, we will determine the synaptic and circuit mechanisms by which the central amygdala mediates fear learning and fear expression in auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning. Findings from this project will have important clinical implications, as impairments in fear processing and fear regulation are core features of several anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH101214-04
Application #
9228407
Study Section
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory Study Section (LAM)
Program Officer
Vicentic, Aleksandra
Project Start
2014-03-01
Project End
2019-02-28
Budget Start
2017-03-01
Budget End
2018-02-28
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$432,000
Indirect Cost
$207,000
Name
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Department
Type
Research Institutes
DUNS #
065968786
City
Cold Spring Harbor
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11724
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Schiff, Hillary C; Bouhuis, Anna Lien; Yu, Kai et al. (2018) An Insula-Central Amygdala Circuit for Guiding Tastant-Reinforced Choice Behavior. J Neurosci 38:1418-1429
Yu, Kai; Ahrens, Sandra; Zhang, Xian et al. (2017) The central amygdala controls learning in the lateral amygdala. Nat Neurosci 20:1680-1685
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Kim, Yongsoo; Perova, Zinaida; Mirrione, Martine M et al. (2016) Whole-Brain Mapping of Neuronal Activity in the Learned Helplessness Model of Depression. Front Neural Circuits 10:3
Banerjee, Arkarup; Marbach, Fred; Anselmi, Francesca et al. (2015) An Interglomerular Circuit Gates Glomerular Output and Implements Gain Control in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb. Neuron 87:193-207
Penzo, Mario A; Robert, Vincent; Tucciarone, Jason et al. (2015) The paraventricular thalamus controls a central amygdala fear circuit. Nature 519:455-9
Ahrens, Sandra; Jaramillo, Santiago; Yu, Kai et al. (2015) ErbB4 regulation of a thalamic reticular nucleus circuit for sensory selection. Nat Neurosci 18:104-11
Perova, Zinaida; Delevich, Kristen; Li, Bo (2015) Depression of excitatory synapses onto parvalbumin interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex in susceptibility to stress. J Neurosci 35:3201-6

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