2014 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Neural circuits regulating fear learning and anxiety disorders
| Project/Area Number |
25710003
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| Research Institution | The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research |
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Principal Investigator |
JOHANSEN JOSHUA 独立行政法人理化学研究所, 脳科学総合研究センター, チームリーダー (80625351)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
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| Keywords | Fear / amygdala / periaqueductal gray / prediction error |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In Heisei 26 we made continued progress on understanding how fear memories are triggered and the strength of these memories is set. For the first set of experiments we recorded electrophysiologically from single neurons in the amygdala while optogenetically silencing amygdala synaptic terminals in the ventrolateral portion of the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Specifically, we presented animals with unpredicted and predicted shocks along with predicted shock accompanied by optical silencing of amygdala-PAG terminals. Though we are finalizing these experiments now, the evidence we've gathered suggests that optogenetic silencing of amygdala inputs to the PAG disinhibited shock evoked responses in amygdala neurons, demonstrating a causal role for this circuit in prediction error coding in amygdala neurons. We then optogenetically silenced the amygdala-PAG pathway during fear learning and found that it increased the strength of fear memories.Together these studies demonstrate that an amygdala-PAG pathway controls the strength of fear memories by setting prediction error coding in amygdala neurons.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Progress was smooth, but one piece of equipment broke which slowed progress on inhibition of amygdala to PAG experiments.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Finalizing optogenetic experiments on inhibition of amygdala inputs to PAG on prediction error coding in amygdala
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| Causes of Carryover |
Some experimental equipment (lasers and a commutator) unexpectedly needed to be repaired last year. This slowed our progress on grant work and some money was left unspent.
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| Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget |
We will use this money to buy consummables which are necessary to complete optogenetics experiments.
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[Journal Article] Hebbian and neuromodulatory mechanisms interact to trigger associative memory formation2014
Author(s)
Johansen, J.P., Diaz-Mataix, L., Hamanaka, H. Ozawa, T., Ycu, E., Koivumaa, J., Kumar, A., Hou, M., Deisseroth, K., Boyden, E. & LeDoux, J.E.
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Journal Title
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Volume: 111(51)
Pages: E5584-92
Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
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