Article
Cell Biology
Gui-Ying Zan, Yu-Jun Wang, Xue-Ping Li, Jun-Fan Fang, Song-Yu Yao, Jun-Ying Du, Qian Wang, Xiang Sun, Rui Liu, Xiao-Mei Shao, Jian-Dong Long, Jing-Rui Chai, Ying-Zhi Deng, Ye-Qing Chen, Qing-Lin Li, Jian-Qiao Fang, Zhi-Qiang Liu, Jing-Gen Liu
Summary: The study reveals that morphine abstinence activates KORs by increasing endogenous KOR ligand dynorphin expression in the amygdala, leading to upregulation of GLT1 expression and subsequent modulation of glutamate inputs to the NAc, resulting in depressive-like behaviors associated with opiate abstinence.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Sa Li, Xinwen Dong, Gilbert J. Kirouac
Summary: Neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) respond to emotionally salient events and project densely to subcortical regions known to mediate adaptive behavioral responses, with recent tracing experiments revealing two intermixed populations of neurons that project to different subcortical regions. These neurons provide collateral innervation to a common set of forebrain regions, suggesting a potential broad regulatory role in influencing responses to physiological and psychological challenges.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuting Cui, Xiaodan Huang, Pengcheng Huang, Lu Huang, Zhao Feng, Xinkuan Xiang, Xinfeng Chen, Anan Li, Chaoran Ren, Haohong Li
Summary: This study reveals the important role of the basal forebrain-lateral habenula circuit in the pathophysiology of depression. Chronic activation of the circuit leads to depressive-like behaviors, while inhibition of the circuit alleviates stress-induced depressive phenotype.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Saidel Moreno-Martinez, Hiram Tendilla-Beltran, Vicente Sandoval, Gonzalo Flores, Jose A. Terron
Summary: The study found that the anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic restraint stress may be due to a reduction in synaptic connectivity of the CeA.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Dan Holley, Andrew S. Fox
Summary: To thrive in challenging environments, individuals must seek rewards while avoiding threats. The central extended amygdala (EAc), which includes the central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), plays a crucial role in defensive behavior. However, recent studies have revealed that the EAc is also involved in survival- and emotion-relevant response selection.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Yu-Jie Li, Wei-Jia Du, Rui Liu, Gui-Ying Zan, Bing-Lu Ye, Qian Li, Zhi-Hao Sheng, Ya-Wei Yuan, Yu-Jie Song, Jing-Gen Liu, Zhi-Qiang Liu
Summary: Anxiety-like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain may be associated with oxytocinergic projections from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Activation of PVN oxytocin neurons can prevent pain-related anxiety-like behaviors, while inhibition of PVN oxytocin neurons can induce anxiety-like behaviors. Oxytocin exerts its anti-anxiety effects through its projection to the CeA.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Zhao-Fu Sheng, Hua Zhang, Jeffery G. Phaup, PeiRu Zheng, XunLei Kang, Zhenguo Liu, Hui-Ming Chang, Edward T. H. Yeh, Alan Kim Johnson, Hui-Lin Pan, De-Pei Li
Summary: Chronic stress is a known risk factor for the development of hypertension. In this study, it was found that the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) are involved in the autonomic responses to chronic stress. Suppressing CeA-CRH neurons can alleviate chronic stress-induced hypertension and decrease elevated sympathetic outflow. Additionally, chronic stress leads to decreased levels of Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 channels in the CeA, which contribute to the hyperactivity of CeA-CRH neurons.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huan-Min Liu, Ming-Lu Liao, Guan-Xi Liu, Lai-Jian Wang, Dian Lian, Jie Ren, Xin-Tian Chi, Zhuo-Ran Lv, Meng Liu, Yan Wu, Ting Xu, Jia-You Wei, Xia Feng, Bin Jiang, Xue-Qin Zhang, Wen-Jun Xin
Summary: This study revealed that the interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure (IPAC) integrates rewarding and environmental memory information from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens shell region (NAcSh) to regulate the acquisition of morphine conditioned place preference (CPP). The VTA GABAergic neurons (VTA(GABA))?IPAC lateral region GABAergic neurons (IPACL(GABA)) pathway mediated the rewarding effect of morphine, while the NAcSh dopamine receptor 1-expressing neurons (NAcSh(D1R))?IPAC medial region GABAergic neurons (IPACM(GABA)) pathway was involved in the acquisition of environmental memory. These findings provide potential circuit-based targets for preventing and treating opioid addiction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gesa Berretz, Julian Packheiser, Oliver T. Wolf, Sebastian Ocklenburg
Summary: Frontal EEG alpha band asymmetries, specifically left hemispheric activation, were found to be stronger under stress compared to a non-stressful control condition. This result supports the asymmetric inhibition model and the capability model of emotional regulation, suggesting that frontal asymmetries during emotional challenge are more pronounced than during rest.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Chien-Wen Lai, Chun-hui Chang
Summary: When faced with threats, animals adapt their behaviors to cope with the situation and suppress irrelevant behaviors. This study found that pharmacological activation of the amygdala decreased cue-induced motivation toward food rewards in animals, but physiological acute stress did not immediately affect negative emotions, motivation, or amygdala activities.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Leah M. Truckenbrod, Sara M. Betzhold, Alexa-Rae Wheeler, John Shallcross, Sarthak Singhal, Scott Harden, Marek Schwendt, Charles J. Frazier, Jennifer L. Bizon, Barry Setlow, Caitlin A. Orsini
Summary: Decision making is a complex cognitive process that involves brain regions such as BLA and NAcSh. Recent research suggests that communication between these structures and activity of D2R-expressing cells in NAcSh are necessary for decision making. However, their contributions during decision making under risk of punishment are still unknown.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Heather N. Allen, Harley J. Bobnar, Benedict J. Kolber
Summary: Hemispheric asymmetries within the brain have been extensively studied across species since the early 19th century. The lateralization of the amygdala, an almond-shaped brain structure located within the limbic system, is reshaping our understanding of its role in pain processing. The central nucleus of the amygdala has been shown to play a crucial role in nociceptive processing, with the right CeA having a pro-nociceptive function and the left CeA showing variable effects ranging from no modulation to anti-nociceptive function in pain models.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jasmin A. Strickland, Michael A. McDannald
Summary: When faced with potential threat, the brain estimates its probability, responds accordingly, and updates future estimates based on experience. This study used Neuropixels probes to record single-unit activity in different brainstem regions of rats and found that a dorsal hub in the brainstem network signaled threat probability. During the outcome period, neuronal function remapping occurred, leading to brainstem networks that signaled prediction error and shock on multiple timescales.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinjian Zhang, Daisuke Tsuboi, Yasuhiro Funahashi, Yukie Yamahashi, Kozo Kaibuchi, Taku Nagai
Summary: Dopamine regulates emotional behaviors, including rewarding and aversive behaviors, through the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Protein phosphorylation plays a critical role in intracellular signaling pathways and physiological functions, and dopamine regulates neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity through phosphorylation of intracellular substrates. Understanding the mechanisms by which dopamine controls emotional behaviors is crucial.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
A. J. P. Aparicio, V. M. S. Carrasco, M. C. Gallego, J. M. Vaquero
Summary: Long-term studies on hemispheric asymmetry can provide better understanding of solar dynamo. The research shows that the northern hemisphere dominated during Solar Cycles 17-20, while the southern hemisphere dominated in Solar Cycle 21. The strongest asymmetries were found in Solar Cycles 20 and 19.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
E. A. Kelly, T. M. Love, J. L. Fudge
Summary: Dopamine is involved in stress-related illnesses, and corticotropin-releasing factor plays a role in stress responses. This study examined the synaptic terminals between dopamine and non-dopamine cells and found that dopamine regulation may occur indirectly through contacts with non-dopamine neurons.
