Neural mechanism underlying cognitive operations in emotional learning systems

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15212
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: GU XIAOWEI 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳神経科学研究センター, 研究員 (80846692)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Inference / Cognition / Emotion / mPFC / Rats

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the three years, I adapted an animal behavioral paradigm to detect the expression of aversive inference. I detected the Calcium activity of neurons in mPFC and found that neurons are responsive to both direct aversive memory and inferred aversive memory. I used optogenetics to inhibit the projections from mPFC to amygdala and found that the projection is necessary during the recall of inferred averisve memory but not the original memory. The calcium activity of mPFC neurons projecting to amygdala also specifically show increased sensory responses for inferred aversive memory during recall. Moreover, the extinction of inferred aversive memory only affect the defensive behavior for inferred aversive memory and independent from original aversive memory and the calcium activity of mPFC neurons also provide consistent evidence. The results are presented in JNS conferences of 2021, 2022 and 2023. Recently, the results were summited to Nature and now the manuscript is in revision.

Free Research Field

neuroscience

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Because there are emerging evidences indicating the importance of cognitive system in human anxiety disorders (e.g. PTSD etc.), this study can provide novel information about the mechanism and inspirations for the development of new medical therapy to cure these debilitating syndromes in future.