Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Rodriguez, Marco Contreras, Marcos Domic-Siede, Francisco Ceric, Fernando Torrealba
Summary: This paper describes a methodology to measure defensive behaviors toward both innate and learned aversive stimuli in rats, including avoidance, freezing, and risk assessment. By exposing rats to cat odor under specific experimental conditions, the study investigated the defensive behavioral responses of rats.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ross A. McDevitt, Rosa Anna M. Marino, Hugo A. Tejeda, Antonello Bonci
Summary: Serotonin plays a crucial role in cue-reward learning in mice, as serotonin reuptake inhibitors can reduce lever pressing behavior, and alterations in serotonin levels in different brain regions can impact behavioral responses.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Maxine K. Loh, J. Amiel Rosenkranz
Summary: Nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons integrate excitatory inputs from cortical and limbic structures, contributing to critical cognitive functions, including decision-making. These inputs may summate differently in NAc between different age groups. Decision-making involves both reward and risk assessment, indicating an interplay between reward- and risk-related circuits. Medial orbitofrontal cortex (MO)-NAc circuits are responsible for risk assessment behaviors and likely play a role in risk information incorporation. However, adolescents tend to make reward-centric choices regardless of risk, suggesting that MO activity may alter reward-related NAc circuits differently based on age. Using single-unit electrophysiology, MO train stimulation was found to change the strength but not the timing of interactions between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and NAc in an age-dependent manner. In adults, MO train stimulation had a frequency-dependent, bidirectional effect on BLA-evoked NAc action potential probability. On the other hand, MO train stimulation uniformly attenuated BLA-NAc interactions in adolescents. The findings suggest that while the mature MO can modulate reward-related circuits in response to decision outcomes, the adolescent MO may have a limited ability to bidirectionally impact these circuits, resulting in biased decision-making.
Article
Physiology
Toshiyuki Fujita, Naoya Aoki, Chihiro Mori, Eiko Fujita, Toshiya Matsushima, Koichi J. Homma, Shinji Yamaguchi
Summary: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating mental states and processing emotions in mammals. This study conducted a molecular dissection of serotonergic neurons in the brainstem of birds and found heterogeneity among these neurons. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the correspondence between bird and mammalian serotonergic neurons.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Christine Stubbendorff, Carl W. Stevenson
Summary: Research has shown that dopamine plays a crucial role in regulating various contextual fear processes, although the related neurochemical mechanisms are still not fully understood. Understanding how dopamine regulates contextual fear can provide novel insights into the neurochemical modulation of neural circuit function underlying memory processing.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nura W. Lingawi, Vincent Laurent, R. Frederick Westbrook, Nathan M. Holmes
Summary: Studies investigating second-order fear conditioning using complex stimuli such as contexts found that neuronal activity in the basolateral amygdala is essential for the acquisition and extinction of fear. The second-order fear can be reduced through extinction of its first-order conditioned stimulus associate, but it can be restored when fear of the first-order stimulus spontaneously recovers or is reconditioned.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEARNING AND MEMORY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Leandro Gabriel Champarini, Macarena Lorena Herrera, Ramiro Gabriel Comas Mutis, Pablo Javier Espejo, Victor Alejandro Molina, Gaston Diego Calfa, Claudia Beatriz Herenu
Summary: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) plays a crucial role in learning and memory processes. Overexpressing IGF-1 in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) promotes the formation and expression of specific contextual fear memories. This overexpression also activates the ERK/MAPK pathway in the BLA and leads to structural plasticity changes in the dorsal hippocampus (DH).
Article
Neurosciences
Yuki Higuchi, Tomoaki Tada, Taiga Nakachi, Hiroyuki Arakawa
Summary: This study investigated the alterations in 5-HT signaling and functionality in BTBR mice and their contribution to abnormal behaviors. Results showed a reduced number of 5-HT neurons in the median raphe of BTBR mice and decreased responsiveness to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone. Additionally, blunted c-Fos responses in the BLA and Hipp regions of BTBR mice were associated with a lack of anxiety-like behavior.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saurabh Sonkusare, Ding Qiong, Yijie Zhao, Wei Liu, Ruoqi Yang, Alekhya Mandali, Luis Manssuer, Chencheng Zhang, Chunyan Cao, Bomin Sun, Shikun Zhan, Valerie Voon
Summary: Using intracranial electroencephalography, this study investigated the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and found that they play important roles in the emotion circuit. The three regions showed different emotion-induced responses and interactions. The results demonstrated greater broadband gamma activity in the negative condition, increased beta activity in the amygdala and OFC, and decreased beta activity in mPFC during the emotional picture viewing task. Furthermore, model-based computational analyses revealed unidirectional connectivity from mPFC to the amygdala and bidirectional communication between OFC-amygdala and OFC-mPFC.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Matthew J. Williams-Spooner, Andrew J. Delaney, R. Frederick Westbrook, Nathan M. Holmes
Summary: This study challenges the widely accepted view that activation of NMDA receptors (NMDAR) is required for fear memory formation. The findings show that the involvement of NMDAR in Pavlovian fear conditioning depends on prediction errors related to aversive events. NMDAR activation is not necessary when danger occurs as expected, but is required when danger occurs unexpectedly.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Xu O. Zhang, Fabricio H. Do Monte
Summary: In a recent study, researchers investigated the role of brainstem networks in threat prediction. Through experiments with rats, they found that brainstem neurons can estimate the likelihood of a threat and generate positive aversive prediction errors in response to unexpected outcomes. These findings suggest that brainstem neurons are not only involved in defensive behaviors but also in threat prediction computations.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
F. Z. Seno, R. F. Sgobbi, M. J. Nobre
Summary: Morphine withdrawal can disrupt neuronal pathways involved in anxiety and fear-related behaviors, particularly those related to associative learning. This study found that GABA mechanisms in the prefrontal cortex and baso-lateral nucleus can reverse contextual fear caused by morphine withdrawal.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Abha K. Rajbhandari, Christopher J. Octeau, Sarah Gonzalez, Zachary T. Pennington, Farzanna Mohamed, Jeremy Trott, Jasmine Chavez, Erin Ngyuen, Natasha Keces, Weizhe Z. Hong, Rachael L. Neve, James Waschek, Baljit S. Khakh, Michael S. Fanselow
Summary: Trauma can lead to dysfunctional fear regulation and development of disorders like PTSD. Research in mice showed that the PACAPergic pathway can modulate fear and fear extinction. Selective deletion of PAC1 receptors in mICCs in females may affect fear acquisition, generalization, and extinction, with modulation dependent on behavioral state.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yi-ting Wu, Chun-hui Chang
Summary: The functional reuniens and rhomboid nuclei are important for the acquisition and expression of fear to context and tones under trace procedure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biology
Tayebeh Sepahvand, Kyron D. Power, Tian Qin, Qi Yuan
Summary: Through the study of threat conditioning, extinction, and second-order threat conditioning in animal models, insights have been gained into the brain-based mechanisms of fear- and anxiety-related disorders and their treatment. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) has received much attention in these processes, and this review provides an overview of its role. Recent evidence suggests that the BLA serves as the core of a greater network of structures, including associative and sensory cortices, in these forms of learning. The BLA is regulated by inputs from the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, as well as by neuromodulators such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which may contribute important learning signals to these processes. The sensory cortices may play a crucial role in the long-term storage of threat memories, and further research can explore their potential in the storage of extinction and second-order conditioning memories.
Article
Neurosciences
Thiago Oliari Ribeiro, Leticia Morais Bueno-de-Camargo, Ana Paula Farias Waltrick, Amanda Ribeiro de Oliveira, Marcus Lira Brandao, Carolina Demarchi Munhoz, Janaina Menezes Zanoveli
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Juliana Almeida da Silva, Rafael Carvalho Almada, Yara Bezerra de Paiva, Norberto Cysne Coimbra
JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura A. Leon, Marcus L. Brandao, Fernando P. Cardenas, Diana Parra, Thomas E. Krahe, Antonio Pedro Mello Cruz, J. Landeira-Fernandez
Article
Neurosciences
Geiza Fernanda Antunes, Flavia Venetucci Gouveia, Fabiana Strambio Rezende, Midia Dias de Jesus Seno, Milene Cristina de Carvalho, Caroline Cruz de Oliveira, Lennon Cardoso Tosati dos Santos, Marina Correia de Castro, Mayra Akemi Kuroki, Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira, Jose Pinhata Otoch, Marcus Lira Brandao, Erich Talamoni Fonoff, Raquel Chacon Ruiz Martinez
NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rafael Carvalho Almada, Tayllon dos Anjos-Garcia, Juliana Almeida da Silva, Glauce Regina Pigatto, Carsten T. Wotjak, Norberto Cysne Coimbra
Summary: This study investigated the role of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) in modulating fear responses in mice facing pit vipers. The results indicate that CB1R in the SNpr may regulate the defensive behaviors of mice in threatening situations by modulating the activity of GABAergic neurons from the striatum in this region.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Vivian M. de Vita, Heloisa R. Zapparoli, Adriano E. Reimer, Marcus L. Brandao, Amanda R. de Oliveira
Summary: Dopamine mediates fear conditioning through its action on D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway, primarily influencing the expression rather than acquisition of conditioned fear. Sulpiride reduces the expression of fear without affecting extinction recall, while haloperidol has cataleptic and motor-impairing effects.
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Victor P. M. N. Soares, Telma G. C. S. de Andrade, Newton S. Canteras, Norberto C. Coimbra, Carsten T. Wotjak, Rafael C. Almada
Summary: The study found that blocking OX1R and OX2R in the PL enhanced tolerance and approach behavior in response to threatening stimuli in mice confronted with erratically moving robo-beetles, indicating a shift in cognitive appraisal of danger stimuli through the orexin system in the PL.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Flavia M. Souza-Smith, Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Elizabeth M. Avegno, Chloe D. Ball, Tekeda F. Ferguson, Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard, Patricia E. Molina
Summary: The current heightened social awareness and anxiety over escalating violence against Black Americans in the United States has led to a demand for a safe space for reflection, education, and civil discourse within academic settings. The authors propose a shared learning approach to discuss perspectives against racism.
ADVANCES IN PHYSIOLOGY EDUCATION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Andrei S. Nastase, Matthew N. Hill, Nicholas W. Gilpin
Summary: Understanding sex-specific effects of predator odor stress on amygdalar endocannabinoids may provide insights into the vulnerability to chronic psychiatric disorders. This study revealed differences in endocannabinoid levels in the amygdala of male and female rats exposed to stress, with implications for behavior regulation in females.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Rafael C. Almada, Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho, Juliana A. da Silva, Carsten T. Wotjak, Norberto C. Coimbra
Summary: The enhancement of endogenous AEA in the SNpr through CB1 receptor signaling has been shown to have panicolytic effects, reducing defensive behaviors in mice confronted with rattlesnakes.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Marcus L. Brandao, Manoel Jorge Nobre, Ruth Estevao
Summary: Fear and anxiety are responses to threatening environments or stimuli, depending on the distance of the threat. This study used virtual reality to examine the effects of threat intensity on behavior and physiological responses in volunteers, revealing a relationship between individual emotional susceptibility and anxiety development.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Debora Fabris, Milene C. Carvalho, Marcus L. Brandao, Wiliam A. Prado, Antonio W. Zuardi, Jose A. Crippa, Amanda R. de Oliveira, Thelma A. Lovick, Karina Genaro
Summary: CBD exhibits anxiolytic effects in both male and female rats, with potential mechanisms involving GABA(A) receptor expression in females and 5-HT1A receptor activation in males. The responsiveness of female rats to CBD is influenced by the stage of the estrous cycle, with higher responsiveness observed in the late diestrus phase. After sub-chronic treatment, female rats in late diestrus maintain their responsiveness to CBD, while those in proestrus remain unresponsive.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana Almeida da Silva, Rafael Carvalho Almada, Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho, Glauce Regina Pigatto, Paloma Molina Hernandes, Norberto Cysne Coimbra
Summary: The study reveals the role of endocannabinoid neuromodulation in controlling fear-related behavioral responses. Activation of specific receptors in certain brain regions triggers panic-like behavior. These findings contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying fear.
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho, Tayllon dos Anjos-Garcia, Paloma Molina Hernandes, Bruno Mangili de Paula Rodrigues, Rafael Carvalho Almada, Norberto Cysne Coimbra
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether the dPAG in mice mediates the fear-induced defensive behaviors and antinociceptive responses organized by AH neurons. Through neural tract tracing and neuropharmacological approaches, it was shown that the activation of dPAG NMDA receptors is involved in panic-like freezing, oriented escape, and fear-induced antinociception induced by intra-AH microinjections of SIN-1.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
D. Parker Kelley, Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Shealan Cruise, Rajani Maiya, Aspasia Destouni, Siva S. V. P. Sakamuri, Alexander Duplooy, Meghan Hibicke, Charles Nichols, Prasad V. G. Katakam, Nicholas W. Gilpin, Joseph Francis
Summary: Stress is associated with contextual memory deficits, which may lead to avoidance of trauma-associated contexts in posttraumatic stress disorder. These deficits may result from impaired pattern separation in the brain, which affects the ability to distinguish similar experiences. The production of reactive oxygen species in the hippocampus has been found to be related to pattern separation and may play a role in the effects of stress on memory.
GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Radwa H. Lutfy, Sherine Abdel Salam, Haitham S. Mohammed, Marwa M. Shakweer, Amina E. Essawy
Summary: Insufficient sleep is associated with impaired hypothalamic activity and declined attentional performance. This study found that near-infrared (NIR) laser therapy can alleviate the effects of sleep deprivation on the hypothalamus, enhance antioxidant status, suppress neuroinflammation, and regulate cellular activity.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Durmus Ali Aslanlar, Emin Fatih Visneci, Mehmet Oz, K. Esra Nurullahoglu Atalik
Summary: Mood disorders caused by chemotherapy have become more important as cancer patients' survival increases. This study used methotrexate to induce mood disorders in rats and found that treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can alleviate anxiety and depression-like behaviors, increase antioxidant capacity, reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and regulate brain chemistry. The findings suggest that NAC treatment could be an effective strategy in revising the treatment for individuals suffering from chemotherapy-induced mood disorders.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Yunfan Zhang, Yunbin Zhang, Zhuangfei Chen, Ping Ren, Yu Fu
Summary: This study systematically investigated the effects of extremely low intensity HF-rTMS on cognition in mice and found that 40 Hz rTMS significantly impaired exploratory behavior and spatial memory at both 10 mT and 1 mT conditions. Additionally, 40 Hz stimulation had remarkably different effects on exploratory behavior depending on intensity, compared to 10 Hz stimulation.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xuan Xuan, Guangling Zheng, Wenjia Zhu, Qionghua Sun, Yawei Zeng, Juan Du, Xusheng Huang
Summary: This study examines the functional characteristics of the cerebellum in individuals with sALS and their correlation with clinical data. The results show changes in both local and global functional connectivity in the cerebellum of sALS patients, suggesting a pathophysiological role of the cerebellum in sALS.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mehdi Rezaei, Mohammad Mahdi Shariat Bagheri
Summary: This study examined the efficacy of tDCS for PTSD and related symptoms, as well as the factors that may predict response to tDCS. The results showed that tDCS had a positive effect in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. The severity of symptoms at baseline may also predict the response to tDCS.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Huimin Wu, Yiqun Guo, Yaoyao Zhang, Le Zhao, Cheng Guo
Summary: Aggression can have serious consequences, but little is known about its personality and neurological origins in children. This study investigated the relationship between self-esteem, aggression, and brain structure in healthy children, and found that self-esteem was negatively associated with aggression. The study also revealed that increased cortical thickness in certain brain areas may be a potential mechanism linking low self-esteem to aggression in children.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xinmei Deng, Kexin Chen, Xiaoming Chen, Lin Zhang, Mingping Lin, Xiaoqing Li, Qiufeng Gao
Summary: Parental involvement affects the relationship and communication between parents and adolescents. This study found that high parental involvement is associated with stronger brain-to-brain synchrony during shared positive emotional experiences, while low parental involvement is associated with stronger synchrony during shared negative emotional experiences.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xin Deng, I. -Shuo Huang, Kourtlin Williams, Marcy L. Wainwright, Paul Zimba, Riccardo Mozzachiodi
Summary: Food deprivation can lead to neurological dysfunctions, including memory impairment. This study used Aplysia as an animal model to investigate the memory deficits caused by prolonged food deprivation. The results showed that 14 days of food deprivation decreased the level of 5-HT in the hemolymph, which contributed to the lack of sensitization and its cellular correlates. However, exogenous application of 5-HT partially induced sensitization in the food deprived animals.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ihori Kobayashi, Patrick A. Forcelli
Summary: The study found that intervention with the dual orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant did not have the expected effects on extinction memory and sleep. Higher percentages of REM sleep were associated with poorer extinction memory recall and stronger fear responses. Additionally, the fear extinction training protocol used in this study did not lead to complete fear extinction.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jiyan Xu, Xinlu Chen, Shuai Liu, Ziqi Wei, Minhui Xu, Linhao Jiang, Xue Han, Liangyu Peng, Xiaoping Gu, Tianjiao Xia
Summary: This study investigated the effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on oxidative stress and cognitive function in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) mice. The results showed that NMN pretreatment reduced oxidative stress damage and alleviated cognitive impairment in POCD mice.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Song Liu, Qiang Wu, Liyue Wang, Cong Xing, Junrui Guo, Baicao Li, Hongpeng Ma, Hao Zhong, Mi Zhou, Shibo Zhu, Rusen Zhu, Guangzhi Ning
Summary: In this study, a systematic assessment indicator was developed to objectively evaluate hindlimb motor function recovery in rats after thoracic contusion SCI. By screening CatWalk XT gait parameters and using exploratory factor analysis, 38 suitable parameters for assessing motor function were identified. A reliable Coordinated Function Index (CFI) was proposed based on these parameters and simplified for improved assessment efficacy.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Kyosuke Shiga, Shota Miyaguchi, Yasuto Inukai, Naofumi Otsuru, Hideaki Onishi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on microscale learning in implicit motor tasks. Contrary to expectations, the results showed that the stimulation protocol had no significant effects on microscale learning, revealing a novel aspect of microscale learning in implicit motor tasks.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Cahide Aslan, Rahime Aslankoc, Ozlem Ozmen, Buse Nur Suluk, Oguzhan Kavrik, Nurhan Gumral
Summary: This study examined the negative effects of high fructose corn syrup on prefrontal cortex damage in adolescent rats, as well as the protective role of vitamin D.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Matin Baghani, Arad Bolouri-Roudsari, Reyhaneh Askari, Abbas Haghparast
Summary: The study suggests that the orexinergic system in the dentate gyrus region of the brain may act as an endogenous pain control system and a potential target for treating stress-related disorders.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sen Zhou, Yang Liu, Binbin Xue, Peigen Yuan
Summary: This study confirmed that low-dose Esketamine alleviates LPS-induced depressive symptoms by regulating the GSK-3 beta/NLRP3 pathway. Appropriate doses of Esketamine are essential for the treatment of depression in the clinical setting.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)