Interoceptive fear learning to an inspiratory load using 20% CO2 inhalation as an unconditioned stimulus

A central amygdala-globus pallidus circuit conveys unconditioned stimulus information and controls fear learning

10.1101/2020.04.28.066753 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jacqueline Giovanniello ◽

Kai Yu ◽

Alessandro Furlan ◽

Gregory Thomas Nachtrab ◽

Radhashree Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Unconditioned Stimulus ◽

Fear Conditioning ◽

Globus Pallidus ◽

Long Range ◽

Fear Learning ◽

Adaptive Behaviors ◽

Stimulus Information ◽

Central Amygdala ◽

Major Function

AbstractThe central amygdala (CeA) is critically involved in a range of adaptive behaviors. In particular, the somatostatin-expressing (Sst+) neurons in the CeA are essential for classic fear conditioning. These neurons send long-range projections to several extra-amygdala targets, but the functions of these projections remain elusive. Here, we found in mice that a subset of Sst+ CeA neurons send projections to the globus pallidus external segment (GPe), and constitute essentially the entire GPe-projecting CeA population. Notably, chronic inhibition of GPe-projecting CeA neurons completely blocks auditory fear conditioning. These neurons are selectively excited by the unconditioned stimulus (US) during fear conditioning, and transient inactivation or activation of these neurons during US presentation impairs or promotes, respectively, fear learning. Our results suggest that a major function of Sst+ CeA neurons is to represent and convey US information through the CeA-GPe circuit, thereby instructing learning in fear conditioning.

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A Central Amygdala-Globus Pallidus Circuit Conveys Unconditioned Stimulus-Related Information and Controls Fear Learning

Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1523/jneurosci.2090-20.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (47) ◽

pp. 9043-9054 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jacqueline Giovanniello ◽

Kai Yu ◽

Alessandro Furlan ◽

Gregory Thomas Nachtrab ◽

Radhashree Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Unconditioned Stimulus ◽

Globus Pallidus ◽

Fear Learning ◽

Central Amygdala ◽

Related Information

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Innate chemical, but not visual, threat cues have been co‐opted as unconditioned stimulus for social fear learning in zebrafish

Genes Brain & Behavior ◽

10.1111/gbb.12688 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Julia S. Pinho ◽

Marisa Castilho ◽

Joao S. Sollari ◽

Rui F. Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Unconditioned Stimulus ◽

Fear Learning ◽

Social Fear ◽

Threat Cues ◽

Social Fear Learning

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Concurrent Electrodermal and Eyeblink Conditioning With Masked and Unmasked Stimuli

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000259 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 35-42

Author(s):

José Luis Marcos ◽

Azahara Marcos

Keyword(s):

Unconditioned Stimulus ◽

Strong Evidence ◽

Eyeblink Conditioning ◽

Noise Burst ◽

Conditioning Phase ◽

Contingency Awareness ◽

Blank Screen ◽

Neutral Face ◽

Fearful Face

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine if contingency awareness between the conditioned (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) is necessary for concurrent electrodermal and eyeblink conditioning to masked stimuli. An angry woman’s face (CS+) and a fearful face (CS−) were presented for 23 milliseconds (ms) and followed by a neutral face as a mask. A 98 dB noise burst (US) was administered 477 ms after CS+ offset to elicit both electrodermal and eyeblink responses. For the unmasking conditioning a 176 ms blank screen was inserted between the CS and the mask. Contingency awareness was assessed using trial-by-trial ratings of US-expectancy in a post-conditioning phase. The results showed acquisition of differential electrodermal and eyeblink conditioning in aware, but not in unaware participants. Acquisition of differential eyeblink conditioning required more trials than electrodermal conditioning. These results provided strong evidence of the causal role of contingency awareness on differential eyeblink and electrodermal conditioning.

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