A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalization
The lateral amygdala (LA) acquires differential coding of predictive and non-predictive fear stimuli that is critical for proper fear memory assignment. The neurotransmitter dopamine is an important modulator of LA activity and facilitates fear memory formation, but whether dopamine neurons aid in t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2015-09-01
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| Series: | eLife |
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| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/08969 |
| _version_ | 1828167308169707520 |
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| author | Graham L Jones Marta E Soden Cerise R Knakal Heather Lee Amanda S Chung Elliott B Merriam Larry S Zweifel |
| author_facet | Graham L Jones Marta E Soden Cerise R Knakal Heather Lee Amanda S Chung Elliott B Merriam Larry S Zweifel |
| author_sort | Graham L Jones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The lateral amygdala (LA) acquires differential coding of predictive and non-predictive fear stimuli that is critical for proper fear memory assignment. The neurotransmitter dopamine is an important modulator of LA activity and facilitates fear memory formation, but whether dopamine neurons aid in the establishment of discriminative fear coding by the LA is unknown. NMDA-type glutamate receptors in dopamine neurons are critical for the prevention of generalized fear following an aversive experience, suggesting a potential link between a cell autonomous function of NMDAR in dopamine neurons and fear coding by the LA. Here, we utilized mice with a selective genetic inactivation functional NMDARs in dopamine neurons (DAT-NR1 KO mice) combined with behavior, in vivo electrophysiology, and ex vivo electrophysiology in LA neurons to demonstrate that plasticity underlying differential fear coding in the LA is regulated by NMDAR signaling in dopamine neurons and alterations in this plasticity is associated non-discriminative cued-fear responses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:14:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-687e900fc122481793a678a40cd1797d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:14:34Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-687e900fc122481793a678a40cd1797d2022-12-22T03:52:17ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2015-09-01410.7554/eLife.08969A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalizationGraham L Jones0Marta E Soden1Cerise R Knakal2Heather Lee3Amanda S Chung4Elliott B Merriam5Larry S Zweifel6Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesThe lateral amygdala (LA) acquires differential coding of predictive and non-predictive fear stimuli that is critical for proper fear memory assignment. The neurotransmitter dopamine is an important modulator of LA activity and facilitates fear memory formation, but whether dopamine neurons aid in the establishment of discriminative fear coding by the LA is unknown. NMDA-type glutamate receptors in dopamine neurons are critical for the prevention of generalized fear following an aversive experience, suggesting a potential link between a cell autonomous function of NMDAR in dopamine neurons and fear coding by the LA. Here, we utilized mice with a selective genetic inactivation functional NMDARs in dopamine neurons (DAT-NR1 KO mice) combined with behavior, in vivo electrophysiology, and ex vivo electrophysiology in LA neurons to demonstrate that plasticity underlying differential fear coding in the LA is regulated by NMDAR signaling in dopamine neurons and alterations in this plasticity is associated non-discriminative cued-fear responses.https://elifesciences.org/articles/08969amygdaladopamineelectrophysiologymousegeneticbehavior |
| spellingShingle | Graham L Jones Marta E Soden Cerise R Knakal Heather Lee Amanda S Chung Elliott B Merriam Larry S Zweifel A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalization eLife amygdala dopamine electrophysiology mouse genetic behavior |
| title | A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalization |
| title_full | A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalization |
| title_fullStr | A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalization |
| title_full_unstemmed | A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalization |
| title_short | A genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala, dopamine, and fear generalization |
| title_sort | genetic link between discriminative fear coding by the lateral amygdala dopamine and fear generalization |
| topic | amygdala dopamine electrophysiology mouse genetic behavior |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/08969 |
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