Control of Behavioral Arousal and Defense by a Glutamatergic Midbrain-Amygdala Pathway in Mice.

ABSTRACT: In response to external threatening signals, animals evolve a series of defensive behaviors that depend on heightened arousal. It is believed that arousal and defensive behaviors are coordinately regulated by specific neurocircuits in the central nervous system. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a key structure located in the ventral midbrain of mice. The activity of VTA glutamatergic neurons has recently been shown to be closely related to sleep-wake behavior. However, the specific role of VTA glutamatergic neurons in sleep-wake regulation, associated physiological functions, and underlying neural circuits remain unclear. In the current study, using an optogenetic approach and synchronous polysomnographic recording, we demonstrated that selective activation of VTA glutamatergic neurons

SUBMITTER: Chen SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9070111 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature