Neural circuits regulating fear learning and anxiety disorders

2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25710003
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: JOHANSEN JOSHUA 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳科学総合研究センター, チームリーダー (80625351)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: fear conditioning / prediction error / teaching signal

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In Heisei 27 we used rollover money to complete the experiments funded by this grant. Specifically we examined how optogenetic manipulation of central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) axon terminals in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) regulated vlPAG neurons and the effects of these manipulations on prediction error coding in dorsolateral PAG and lateral amygdala (LA) neurons. We found that predictive auditory cues activate vlPAG neurons and that this was reduced when CeA inputs to vlPAG were inactivated. Furthermore we found that the CeA inputs acted on a specific population of brainstem projecting vlPAG neurons to set prediction error coding in dlPAG and LA cells and control the strength of fear memories. The rollover money was invaluable in completing this project which is currently under review for publication.

Research Progress Status

27年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。

Strategy for Future Research Activity

27年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Evaluation of ambiguous associations in the amygdala by learning the structure of the environment. (2016)
  • Author(s): Madarasz, T.J., Diaz-Mataix, L., Akhand, O., Ycu, E.A., LeDoux, J.E., Johansen, J.P.
  • Journal Title: Nature Neuroscience Volume: In press Pages: In press
  • DOI: 10.1038/nn.4308
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Alterations in the rostral ventromedial medulla after the selective ablation of mu-opioid receptor expressing neurons. (2016)
  • Author(s): Harasawa, I., Johansen, J.P., Fields, H.L., Porreca, F., Meng, I.D.
  • Journal Title: Pain Volume: 157(1) Pages: 166-173
  • DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000344
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Projection specificity in heterogeneous locus coeruleus cell populations: implications for learning and memory. (2015)
  • Author(s): Uematsu, A., Tan, B.Z., Johansen, J.P.
  • Journal Title: Learning & Memory Volume: 22 Pages: 444-451
  • DOI: 10.1101/lm.037283.114
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Neural circuit mechanisms for triggering and reversing aversive memories (2016)
  • Author(s): Joshua Johansen
  • Organizer: Neural mechanisms of decision making: achievements and new directions
  • Place of Presentation: CiNet Bldg Conference room, Osaka, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2016-02-03 – 2016-02-03
  • Invited
• [Presentation] A feedback neural circuit for calibrating memory strength (2015)
  • Author(s): Joshua Johansen
  • Organizer: International Symposium on Optogenetics (Tokyo, Japan)
  • Place of Presentation: Akio Suzuki Memorial Hall, Tokyo, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2015-12-05 – 2015-12-05
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Functional and anatomical specificity in locus coeruleus noradrenaline neurons (2015)
  • Author(s): Joshua Johansen
  • Organizer: Gordon Conference: Amygdala in health and disease
  • Place of Presentation: Easton, USA
  • Year and Date: 2015-08-04 – 2015-08-04
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited