Cited by 128Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Pathway-Selective Adjustment of Prefrontal-Amygdala Transmission during Fear Encoding

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Arruda-Carvalho, Maithe, Clem, Roger L.·2014·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Conditioned fear requires neural activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), structures that are densely interconnected at the synaptic level. Previous work has suggested that anatomical subdivisions of mPFC make distinct contributions to fear expression and inhibition, and that the functional output of this processing is relayed to the BLA complex. However, it remains unknown whether synaptic plasticity in mPFC-BLA networks contributes to fear memory encoding. Here we use optogenetics and ex vivo electrophysiology to reveal the impact of fear conditioning on BLA excitatory and feedforward inhibitory circuits formed by projections from infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PL) cortices. In naive mice, these pathways recruit equivalent excitation and feedforward inhibition in BLA principal neurons. However, fear learning leads to a selective decrease in inhibition:excitation balance in PL circuits that is attributable to a postsynaptic increase in AMPA receptor function. These data suggest a pathway-specific mechanism for fear memory encoding by adjustment of mPFC-BLA transmission. Upon reengagement of PL by conditioned cues, these modifications may serve to amplify emotional responses.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.2664-14.2014

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  • Following auditory fear conditioning, excitatory responses evoked by prelimbic cortical inputs in the BLA are increased as a result of enhanced AMPA-type glutamate receptor function.

    “Following auditory fear conditioning, however, excitatory responses evoked by prelimbic cortical inputs in the BLA are increased as a result of enhanced AMPA-type glutamate receptor function113.”

    From Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety (2015) · cites this paper as [113]

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Authors
Arruda-Carvalho, M., & Clem, R. L.
Affiliations
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2014-11-19
Volume
34
Issue
47
Pages
15601-15609
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2039010512
Cited by
127
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6
FWCI
4.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH105414)
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
fear conditioning, basolateral amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, infralimbic cortex, prelimbic cortex, synaptic plasticity, feedforward inhibition, excitation-inhibition balance
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Animals, Fear, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Neural Pathways, Synaptic Transmission, Neuronal Plasticity, Prefrontal Cortex, Receptors, AMPA, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Mice, Electrophysiological Phenomena

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