Article
Neurosciences
Jessica A. Higginbotham, Rong Wang, Ben D. Richardson, Hiroko Shiina, Shi Min Tan, Mark A. Presker, David J. Rossi, Rita A. Fuchs
Summary: Systemic CB1R antagonism during cocaine-memory reconsolidation reduced drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior and inhibited cellular adaptations and synaptic physiology changes in the basolateral amygdala. These findings suggest that CB1R signaling modulates cellular and synaptic mechanisms in the BLA, potentially playing a crucial role in preventing relapse.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Jobe L. Ritchie, Jennifer L. Walters, Justine M. C. Galliou, Robert J. Christian, Shuyi Qi, Marina Savenkova, Christopher K. Ibarra, Shayna R. Grogan, Rita A. Fuchs
Summary: The study found that CRFR1 signaling in the brain region BLA is crucial for regulating the strength of cocaine memories in rats, with potential sex differences in its effects.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Sakineh Alijanpour, Zahra Ghasemzadeh, Mohaddeseh Ebrahimi-Ghiri, Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
Summary: Evidence suggests that the amygdala endocannabinoid system plays a role in pain processing and mediates the antinociceptive effects of harmaline.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Peng Liu, Jialong Liang, Fengze Jiang, Wanshi Cai, Fang Shen, Jing Liang, Jianjun Zhang, Zhongsheng Sun, Nan Sui
Summary: Impairing reconsolidation can prevent relapse of morphine reward memories. DNA methyltransferases play a crucial role in the reconsolidation of opiate-associated memories, specifically in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), and DNA hypermethylation of certain genes is necessary for the reconsolidation of morphine reward memories.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tatiane Ferreira Tavares, Jose Lino Oliveira Bueno, Valerie Doyere
Summary: Reinforcement learning theories suggest that prediction error drives memory updating. This study investigates the role of temporal prediction error in appetitive operant conditioning. The results demonstrate the involvement of the basolateral amygdala nucleus (BLA) in long-term memory updating and the importance of temporal and reward contingencies.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yuanyang Xie, Yingfan Zhang, Ting Hu, Zijin Zhao, Qing Liu, Haoyu Li
Summary: This study demonstrates that GSK-3 beta activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is required for the reconsolidation of heroin drug memory and inhibiting GSK-3 beta activity in BLA disrupts reconsolidation and attenuates heroin relapse. The results also suggest that the effect of GSK-3 beta inhibition is retrieval-dependent and time-specific. Additionally, the long-term effect of GSK-3 beta treatment leads to a detectable decrease in heroin-seeking behavior lasting at least 28 days.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Kelle E. Nett, Alexa R. Zimbelman, Matthew S. McGregor, Vanessa Alizo Vera, Molly R. Harris, Ryan T. LaLumiere
Summary: Previous evidence suggests that the infralimbic cortex (IL) plays a role in inhibiting cocaine seeking behavior in rats. In this study, the researchers investigated whether IL activity and its outputs to the nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell) and amygdala are involved in encoding extinction contingencies following cocaine self-administration. They used optogenetic techniques to silence IL-NAshell or IL-amygdala activity after an unreinforced lever press during extinction training and found that inhibition of IL-NAshell or IL-amygdala activity impaired extinction retention.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Mengwei Wu, Yeqing Chen, Zui Shen, Yichen Zhu, Siqi Xiao, Xixiao Zhu, Zemin Wu, Jinggen Liu, Chi Xu, Pingan Yao, Weiwei Xu, Yi Liang, Boyi Liu, Junying Du, Xiaofen He, Boyu Liu, Xiaoming Jin, Jianqiao Fang, Xiaomei Shao
Summary: This study investigated the potential roles of DRD1 and DRD2 in the BLA in neuropathic pain-induced anxiety. It was found that activation of DRD1 or inhibition of DRD2 alleviated anxiety-like behaviors, and electroacupuncture (EA) had a similar effect. Additionally, neither DRD1 nor DRD2 in the BLA affected mechanical allodynia, but EA did.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yanjun Sun, Lisa M. Giocomo
Summary: This study reveals that a subset of neurons in the hippocampus of mice encode drug-associated contextual information, providing insight into how drug abuse alters hippocampal circuitry to encode drug-context associations.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Psychiatry
Amy L. Milton
Summary: Memory reconsolidation has been proposed as a therapeutic target for reducing the impact of emotional memories in mental health disorders such as drug addiction. Research has revealed the molecular pathways supporting the reconsolidation of pavlovian cue-drug memories and instrumental drug-seeking memories, providing challenges and opportunities for the clinical use of reconsolidation-based therapies.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hirohito Esaki, Yuki Sasaki, Naoya Nishitani, Hikari Kamada, Satoko Mukai, Yoshitaka Ohshima, Sao Nakada, Xiyan Ni, Satoshi Deyama, Katsuyuki Kaneda
Summary: This study examined whether the prosocial effects induced by MDMA are mediated by 5-HT neurotransmission in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the basolateral nucleus of amygdala (BLA). The results showed that selective inhibition of 5-HT transporters before MDMA administration did not suppress the prosocial effects. However, the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 significantly suppressed the prosocial effects of MDMA. Furthermore, local administration of WAY100635 into the BLA, but not the mPFC, suppressed the MDMA-induced prosocial effects. These findings suggest that MDMA induces prosocial effects through the stimulation of 5-HT1A receptors in the BLA.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Gajanan P. Shelkar, Jinxu Liu, Shashank M. Dravid
Summary: The study reveals that the novel glycine-site agonist AICP enhances fear extinction by acting on GluN2C-containing receptors in the basolateral amygdala, facilitating excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic insertion of AMPA receptor GluA1 subunit. Chemogenetic activation of astrocytes in the amygdala also promotes fear extinction. These findings suggest that the development of superagonists targeting GluN2C-containing receptors may hold promise for treating anxiety disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Seyedeh Kebria Noorani, Vida Hojati, Esmaeil Akbari, Simin Ehsani, Takeshi Sakurai, Motahareh Rouhi Ardeshiri
Summary: This study investigated the effects of adrenergic and orexinergic systems in BLA on memory processing and hippocampal plasticity, revealing that the orexinergic system modulates hippocampal plasticity influenced by the adrenergic system.
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Gabrielle Emily Boaventura Tavares, Paula Cristina Bianchi, Thais Suemi Yokoyama, Paola Palombo, Fabio Cardoso Cruz
Summary: Ethanol is widely abused and its misuse can lead to alcohol use disorder. This study examined the neural mechanisms involved in the context-induced reinstatement of ethanol-seeking behavior. The findings suggest that cortical projections from the prelimbic cortex to the basolateral amygdala play a role in this phenomenon.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yire Jeong, Hye-Yeon Cho, Mujun Kim, Jung-Pyo Oh, Min Soo Kang, Miran Yoo, Han-Sol Lee, Jin-Hee Han
Summary: The study investigates how synaptic plasticity of neurons influences the encoding of fear memories, showing that this process can be manipulated through optogenetic techniques. The encoding of memory is influenced by the competitive interactions of cellular activity levels and synaptic plasticity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Ryan J. McLaughlin, Rita A. Fuchs
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Gregory T. Carter, Ryan J. McLaughlin, Carrie Cuttler, Garrett J. Sauber, Douglas L. Weeks, Cecilia J. Hillard, Michael D. Weiss
Summary: This study found that certain lipid concentrations are predictors of ALS presence, with AEA and OEA inversely correlating with disease duration in ALS patients. These results suggest that arachidonic and oleic acid containing small lipids may serve as biomarkers for identifying ALS patients and predicting disease duration.
Article
Neurosciences
Jessica A. Higginbotham, Rong Wang, Ben D. Richardson, Hiroko Shiina, Shi Min Tan, Mark A. Presker, David J. Rossi, Rita A. Fuchs
Summary: Systemic CB1R antagonism during cocaine-memory reconsolidation reduced drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior and inhibited cellular adaptations and synaptic physiology changes in the basolateral amygdala. These findings suggest that CB1R signaling modulates cellular and synaptic mechanisms in the BLA, potentially playing a crucial role in preventing relapse.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Leah D. Sheppard, Carrie Cuttler, Eunjeong Shin, Ryan J. McLaughlin
Summary: In work-related tasks, there are differences in salivary cortisol concentrations between male and female participants when working with opposite-sex or same-sex partners.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nicholas C. Glodosky, Carrie Cuttler, Ryan J. McLaughlin
Summary: This review provides an overview of the effects of acute and chronic cannabinoid exposure on stress responses in humans and animals, showing that acute exposure increases stress hormones while chronic exposure is associated with dampened stress reactivity. The review also highlights the need for future research to understand sex differences in the effects of cannabis on stress responses and mental health outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Samantha L. Baglot, Jonathan W. VanRyzin, Ashley E. Marquardt, Robert J. Aukema, Gavin N. Petrie, Catherine Hume, Erin L. Reinl, John B. Bieber, Ryan J. McLaughlin, Margaret M. McCarthy, Matthew N. Hill
Summary: This study found that both inhalation and injection of THC during pregnancy resulted in the transmission of THC and its metabolites to the placenta and fetal brain. Inhaled THC vapor led to fetal brain THC concentrations approximately 30% of those in maternal blood, while injected THC showed roughly equivalent concentrations in maternal blood and fetal brain. Neither inhalation nor injection of THC during pregnancy altered fetal brain endocannabinoid concentrations.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jobe L. Ritchie, Jennifer L. Walters, Justine M. C. Galliou, Robert J. Christian, Shuyi Qi, Marina Savenkova, Christopher K. Ibarra, Shayna R. Grogan, Rita A. Fuchs
Summary: The study found that CRFR1 signaling in the brain region BLA is crucial for regulating the strength of cocaine memories in rats, with potential sex differences in its effects.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samantha L. Baglot, Catherine Hume, Gavin N. Petrie, Robert J. Aukema, Savannah H. M. Lightfoot, Laine M. Grace, Ruokun Zhou, Linda Parker, Jong M. Rho, Stephanie L. Borgland, Ryan J. McLaughlin, Laurent Brechenmacher, Matthew N. Hill
Summary: Up to a third of North Americans report using cannabis in the prior month, most commonly through inhalation. Animal models that reflect human consumption are critical to study the impact of cannabis on brain and behaviour. The study found different pharmacokinetic profiles following inhalation versus injection of THC, with higher initial brain THC concentration following inhalation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Shuyi Qi, Shi Min Tan, Rong Wang, Jessica A. Higginbotham, Jobe L. Ritchie, Christopher K. Ibarra, Amy A. Arguello, Robert J. Christian, Rita A. Fuchs
Summary: This study reveals the role of the dorsal hippocampus in cocaine memory reconsolidation through optogenetic methods. Inhibiting the dCA3 subregion reduces neuronal activation and attenuates drug-seeking behavior in cocaine memories. Additionally, the study suggests that SL neurons may facilitate cocaine memory retrieval by inhibiting non-engram neuronal activity.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Jessica A. Higginbotham, Tamara Markovic, Nicolas Massaly, Jose A. Moron
Summary: Decades of research have shown the crucial role of endogenous opioid systems in regulating various physiological functions. However, the misuse of exogenous opioids can lead to addiction. Perturbation of the endogenous opioid system function by opioid use may increase the likelihood of developing opioid use disorder. This review highlights the intricate relationship between pain, endogenous opioid systems, and opioid misuse, as well as potential advances in safer and more effective pain therapies.
FRONTIERS IN SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Ryan McLaughlin
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Shuyi Qi, Shimin Tan, Rong Wang, Christopher K. Ibarra, Jobe L. Ritchie, Robert J. Christian, Amy A. Arguello, Jessica A. Higginbotham, Rita A. Fuchs
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)