Cited by 514Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorMemory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Regulation of affect by the lateral septum: implications for neuropsychiatry

Sheehan, Teige P, Chambers, R.Andrew, Russell, David S·2004·Brain Research Reviews

Abstract

Substantial evidence indicates that the lateral septum (LS) plays a critical role in regulating processes related to mood and motivation. This review presents findings from the basic neuroscience literature and from some clinically oriented research, drawing from behavioral, neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, and molecular studies in support of such a role, and articulates models and hypotheses intended to advance our understanding of these functions. Neuroanatomically, the LS is connected with numerous regions known to regulate affect, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus. Through its connections with the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, the LS regulates motivation, both by stimulating the activity of midbrain dopamine neurons and regulating the consequences of this activity on the ventral striatum. Evidence that LS function could impact processes related to schizophrenia and other psychotic spectrum disorders, such as alterations in LS function following administration of antipsychotics and psychotomimetics in animals, will also be presented. The LS can also diminish or enable fear responding when its neural activity is stimulated or inhibited, respectively, perhaps through its projections to the hypothalamus. It also regulates behavioral manifestations of depression, with antidepressants stimulating the activity of LS neurons, and depression-like phenotypes corresponding to blunted activity of LS neurons; serotonin likely plays a key role in modulating these functions by influencing the responsiveness of the LS to hippocampal input. In conclusion, a better understanding of the LS may provide important and useful information in the pursuit of better treatments for a wide range of psychiatric conditions typified by disregulation of affective functions.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2004.04.009

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594 of 594 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The lateral septum serves as a hub in the brain by integrating social, emotional, and contextual information from different brain systems and contributing to the coordination of adaptive context-specific behavioral responses.

    “this area serves as a hub in the brain by integrating social, emotional, and contextual information from different brain systems and contributing to the coordination of adaptive context-specific behavioral responses (Sheehan et al., 2004; Luo et al., 2011)”
  • The lateral septum plays a key role in modulating context-specific motivational states.

    “and the lateral septum plays a key role in modulating context-specific motivational states (Sheehan et al., 2004; Luo et al., 2011; Sartor and Aston-Jones, 2012).”
  • A possible circuit could comprise the hippocampus transmitting contextual information onto the lateral septum which, in turn, relays this information onto areas such as the lateral hypothalamus and the ventral tegmental area to modulate behavioral responses appropriate to particular environmental stimuli.

    “A possible circuit could comprise the hippocampus transmitting contextual information onto the lateral septum which, in turn, relays this information onto areas such as the lateral hypothalamus and the ventral tegmental area to modulate behavioral responses appropriate to particular environmental stimuli (Sheehan et al., 2004).”
  • GABA-A receptor activation presumably will result in decreased LS neuronal output while GABA-A receptor blockade will allow for increased LS output.

    “GABA-A receptor activation presumably will result in decreased LS neuronal output while GABA-A receptor blockade will allow for increased LS output (Sheehan et al., 2004).”
  • Lesions of other play-associated brain regions also impair locomotor behavior, sensory processing, etc., making it difficult to parse out the specific impact of each region on play itself.

    “Following this trend, lesions of other play-associated brain regions also impair locomotor behavior, sensory processing, etc. (Neill et al., 1974; Sheehan et al., 2004; DiBenedictis et al., 2013) making it difficult to parse out the specific impact of each region on play itself.”

    From Developmental origins of sex differences in the neural circuitry of play (2020) · cites this paper as Sheehan et al., 2004

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Authors
Sheehan, T. P., Chambers, R. A., & Russell, D. S.
Affiliations
  • Brown University (US)
  • Indiana University School of Medicine (US)
  • Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Sheehan, Teige P
Venue
Brain Research Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2004-08
Volume
46
Issue
1
Pages
71-117
ISSN
0165-0173 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2140977742
Cited by
514
References
594
Citations by year
2026: 31 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 21
FWCI
1.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Brain Research Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P01MH025642)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (K08DA000302)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
lateral septum, emotion regulation, mood, motivation, mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, ventral striatum, schizophrenia, psychosis spectrum disorders, antipsychotic drugs, psychotomimetics, hypothalamus, depression, antidepressants, serotonin, hippocampus, amygdala, neuropsychiatry
MeSH terms
Animals, Mental Disorders, Humans, Neuropsychology, Septum of Brain

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