Dynamic remodeling of a basolateral-to-central amygdala glutamatergic circuit across fear states.

ABSTRACT: Acquisition and extinction of learned fear responses utilize conserved but flexible neural circuits. Here we show that acquisition of conditioned freezing behavior is associated with dynamic remodeling of relative excitatory drive from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) away from corticotropin releasing factor-expressing (CRF⁺) centrolateral amygdala neurons, and toward non-CRF⁺ (CRF^-) and somatostatin-expressing (SOM⁺) neurons, while fear extinction training remodels this circuit back toward favoring CRF⁺ neurons. Importantly, BLA activity is required for this experience-dependent remodeling, while directed inhibition of the BLA-centrolateral amygdala circuit impairs both fear memory acquisition and extinction memory retrieval. Additional

SUBMITTER: Hartley ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6884697 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature