Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Learned fear and safety are associated with distinct oscillatory states in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). To determine if and how these network states support the retrieval of competing memories, we mimicked endogenous oscillatory activity through optogenetic stimulation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons in mice during retrieval of contextual fear and extinction memories. We found that exogenously induced 4 Hz and 8 Hz oscillatory activity in the BLA exerts bi-directional control over conditioned freezing behavior in an experience- and context-specific manner, and that these oscillations have an experience-dependent ability to recruit distinct functional neuronal ensembles. At the network level we demonstrate, via simultaneous manipulation of BLA and mPFC, that experience-dependent 4 Hz resonance across BLA-mPFC circuitry supports post-extinction fear memory retrieval. Our findings reveal that post-extinction fear memory retrieval is supported by local and interregional experience-dependent resonance, and suggest novel approaches for interrogation and therapeutic manipulation of acquired fear circuitry.
Highlights
Learned fear and safety are associated with distinct oscillatory states in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex
In order to study the dynamic roles of theta-range oscillatory states across conditioned fear and extinction learning, we combined exogenous oscillatory stimulation of the BLA and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) with local-field potential (LFP) and unit recordings in mice subjected to contextual fear conditioning and extinction
We previously identified two competing oscillatory states in the BLA with opposing behavioral associations: a 3–6-Hz oscillation associated with freezing behavior and a distinct 6–12-Hz oscillation associated with non-freezing or safety behavior[20]
Summary
Learned fear and safety are associated with distinct oscillatory states in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Distinct synchronous oscillations in the theta-range (~3–12 Hz) have been detected in BLA-mPFC circuits, and have been shown to correlate with either increased or decreased experience-dependent fear behavior[14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21]. Both BLA and mPFC neurons can display theta-range resonance[22,23,24,25,26,27]. Thereby, our findings uncover experiencedependent changes in theta-range resonance properties of BLA-mPFC circuits that support the retrieval of fear and extinction memories
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
