Cited by 950Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory Processes and Influences

Switching on and off fear by distinct neuronal circuits

Herry, Cyril, Ciocchi, Stephane, Senn, Verena, Demmou, Lynda, Müller, Christian, Lüthi, Andreas·2008·Nature

Abstract

Switching between exploratory and defensive behaviour is fundamental to survival of many animals, but how this transition is achieved by specific neuronal circuits is not known. Here, using the converse behavioural states of fear extinction and its context-dependent renewal as a model in mice, we show that bi-directional transitions between states of high and low fear are triggered by a rapid switch in the balance of activity between two distinct populations of basal amygdala neurons. These two populations are integrated into discrete neuronal circuits differentially connected with the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex. Targeted and reversible neuronal inactivation of the basal amygdala prevents behavioural changes without affecting memory or expression of behaviour. Our findings indicate that switching between distinct behavioural states can be triggered by selective activation of specific neuronal circuits integrating sensory and contextual information. These observations provide a new framework for understanding context-dependent changes of fear behaviour.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature07166

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51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • There are distinct engrams for fear and extinction memories within the amygdala.

    “there do appear to be distinct engrams for fear and extinction memories within the amygdala (Herry et al., 2008)”
  • Principal neurons and interneurons in the BLA receive monosynaptic input from the mPFC and vHPC, and send reciprocal projections to both of these regions.

    “principal neurons and interneurons in the BLA have been shown to receive monosynaptic input from mPFC and vHPC, and send reciprocal projections to both of these regions66-68.”

    From Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety (2015) · cites this paper as [67]

  • Neighboring cells in the basal amygdala that are innervated by PFC afferents fire in response to extinguished conditioned stimuli and project reciprocally to the PFC.

    “Neighboring cells in the basal amygdala that are innervated by PFC afferents fire in response to conditioned stimuli that have been extinguished, and they project reciprocally to the PFC67.”

    From Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety (2015) · cites this paper as [67]

  • Activation of fear-encoding neurons in the basal amygdala is necessary for fear renewal after extinction.

    “the activation of these cells is necessary for fear renewal after extinction67.”

    From Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety (2015) · cites this paper as [67]

  • The vHPC specifically targets fear-encoding neurons in the basal amygdala.

    “the vHPC specifically targets fear-encoding neurons in the basal amygdala (which themselves project to the mPFC)”

    From Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety (2015) · cites this paper as [67]

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Authors
Herry, C., Ciocchi, S., Senn, V., Demmou, L., Müller, C., & Lüthi, A.
Affiliations
Friedrich Miescher Institute (CH)
Corresponding author
  • Herry, Cyril
  • Lüthi, Andreas
Venue
Nature
Published
2008-07
Volume
454
Issue
7204
Pages
600-606
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2042479971
Cited by
950
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 67 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 68 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 59 · 2013: 75 · 2012: 52
FWCI
22.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
Austrian Science Fund
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
fear extinction, fear renewal, basolateral amygdala, neural circuits, hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, neural inactivation, anxiety disorders, contextual fear
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Animals, Conditioning, Psychological, Extinction, Psychological, Fear, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Muscimol, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Models, Animal, Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic, Mice

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