Non-equilibrium landscape and flux reveal how the central amygdala circuit gates passive and active defensive responses.

ABSTRACT: Uncovering the underlying physical principles of biology is important for understanding the biological function yet challenging. Take an example, the animals' defensive systems are very effective to threats. However, the underlying physical mechanisms are still unclear. We developed a non-equilibrium physics framework in terms of landscape and flux to study a central lateral amygdala (CeL) neural circuit based on experimental findings. We show that the distinct active and passive defensive responses of the animals upon threats are a result of non-equilibrium phase transitions. Such non-equilibrium phase transitions result from thermodynamic symmetry breaking, which is induced dynamically by the non-equilibrium flux. This gives rise to the emergence and selection of passive and active fear

SUBMITTER: Yan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6505558 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature