2017 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

Dopaminergic regulation of fear extinction learning

Research Project

Project/Area Number	15H04264
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)	2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
Keywords	Dopamine / Fear / Extinction / Prefrontal cortex / Basal Ganglia
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	In Fiscal year Heisei 29, we finalized our project looking at the role of the brain dopamine system in reducing emotional fear responses when they are not appropriate (a process called fear extinction learning). Specifically, we found that one population of dopamine neurons which is connected with the medial prefrontal cortex restrains extinction learning. By contrast, another population of dopamine cells which projects to the nucleus accumbens is required for normal extinction learning.The cells which project to the nucleus accumbens are a select population connected with the medial shell region of accumbens, separate from a population innervating the nucleus accumbens core. Finally, we found that dopamine neurons which project to the amygdala are not important for extinction.
Research Progress Status	29年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。
Strategy for Future Research Activity	29年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。

(4 results)