Prepronociceptin-Expressing Neurons in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Signal Escape Behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dysregulation in neural circuits that encode arousal responses to aversive stimuli is thought to contribute to changes in motivated behaviors associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between arousal and motivation remains poorly understood. We previously identified that prepronociceptin-expressing neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (Pnoc ^BNST neurons) modulate rapid physiological arousal responses to a motivationally salient aversive odor. However, whether Pnoc ^BNST neurons also signal behavioral actions triggered by an aversive odor is still unknown.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the role of Pnoc ^BNST neurons in signaling behavioral responses to an aversive

SUBMITTER: Ortiz-Juza MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12268543 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature