Cited by 78Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Neurons in the Amygdala with Response-Selectivity for Anxiety in Two Ethologically Based Tests

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Wang, Dong V., Wang, Fang, Liu, Jun, Zhang, Lu, Wang, Zhiru, Lin, Longnian·2011·PLoS ONE

Abstract

The amygdala is a key area in the brain for detecting potential threats or dangers, and further mediating anxiety. However, the neuronal mechanisms of anxiety in the amygdala have not been well characterized. Here we report that in freely-behaving mice, a group of neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) fires tonically under anxiety conditions in both open-field and elevated plus-maze tests. The firing patterns of these neurons displayed a characteristic slow onset and progressively increased firing rates. Specifically, these firing patterns were correlated to a gradual development of anxiety-like behaviors in the open-field test. Moreover, these neurons could be activated by any impoverished environment similar to an open-field; and introduction of both comfortable and uncomfortable stimuli temporarily suppressed the activity of these BLA neurons. Importantly, the excitability of these BLA neurons correlated well with levels of anxiety. These results demonstrate that this type of BLA neuron is likely to represent anxiety and/or emotional values of anxiety elicited by anxiogenic environmental stressors.

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  • Tonic activity in a subset of BLA neurons tracks with anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and OFT.

    “For instance, tonic activity in a subset of BLA neurons has been shown to track with anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and OFT79.”

    From Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety (2015) · cites this paper as [79]

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Authors
Wang, D. V., Wang, F., Liu, J., Zhang, L., Wang, Z., & Lin, L.
Affiliations
East China Normal University (CN)
Corresponding author
Lin, Longnian
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2011-04-11
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
e18739
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1972585935
Cited by
78
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (30570584)
  • Shanghai Municipal Education Commission
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
basolateral amygdala, anxiety, open field test, elevated plus maze, anxiety-like behavior, neuronal excitability, emotional value, freely moving mice
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Amygdala, Animals, Anxiety, Behavior, Animal, Environmental Exposure, Ethology, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Neurons, Maze Learning, Mice

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