Authors
Strobel, Cornelia Marek, Roger Gooch, Helen M. M Sullivan, Robert K.P. K P Sah, Pankaj
Affiliations
The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
Application Area
Optogenetics
Electrophysiological Techniques
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are partners in fear learning and extinction. Intercalated (ITC) cells are inhibitory neurons that surround the BLA. Lateral ITC (lITC) neurons provide feed-forward inhibition to BLA principal neurons, whereas medial ITC (mITC) neurons form an inhibitory interface between the BLA and central amygdala (CeA). Notably, infralimbic prefrontal (IL) input to mITC neurons is thought to play a key role in fear extinction. Here, using targeted optogenetic stimulation, we show that lITC neurons receive auditory input from cortical and thalamic regions. IL inputs innervate principal neurons in the BLA but not mITC neurons. These results suggest that (1) these neurons may play a more central role in fear learning as both lITCs and mITCs receive auditory input and that (2) mITC neurons cannot be driven directly by the IL, and their role in fear extinction is likely mediated via the BLA.
Extract
… “470 nm long (CAIRN OptoLED or CoolLED), and”…
Product Associated Features
pE-100: A range of compact, simple-to-use, single wavelength illumination systems for screening fluorescence.
Product Type
pE-100
Journal
Cell Reports
Year of Publication
2015
Country of Publication
Australia
