bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 22, 2025
Abstract
Expression
of
immediate
early
genes
(IEGs)
is
critical
for
memory
formation
and
has
been
widely
used
to
identify
the
neural
substrate
traces,
termed
engram
cells.
However,
types
IEG
have
relatively
not
distinguished
in
identifying
cells,
as
there
limited
knowledge
about
extent
which
different
IEGs
are
selectively
or
concurrently
involved
engram.
To
address
this
question,
we
investigated
combinative
expression
c-Fos,
Arc,
Npas4
proteins
using
immunohistochemistry
following
aversive
rewarding
experiences
across
subregions
prefrontal
cortex
(PFC),
basolateral
amygdala
(BLA),
hippocampal
dentate
gyrus
(DG),
retrosplenial
(RSC).
Using
an
automated
cell
detection
algorithm,
found
that
patterns
Npas4,
Arc
varied
brain
areas,
with
a
higher
increase
expressing
cells
PFC
posterior
BLA
than
DG.
The
patterns,
along
their
learning-induced
changes,
also
differed
areas;
co-expression
increased
learning
whereas
was
less
pronounced
DG
RSC.
Furthermore,
demonstrate
area-to-area
functional
connectivity
networks
were
extracted
by
IEGs.
These
findings
provide
insights
into
how
combinations
will
contribute
deeper
understanding
significance
IEG-tagged
Trends in Cognitive Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
26(8), P. 688 - 706
Published: June 3, 2022
Empathy
is
critical
to
adjusting
our
behavior
the
state
of
others.
The
past
decade
dramatically
deepened
understanding
biological
origin
this
capacity.
We
now
understand
that
rodents
robustly
show
emotional
contagion
for
distress
others
via
neural
structures
homologous
those
involved
in
human
empathy.
Their
propensity
approach
strengthens
effect.
Although
can
also
learn
favor
behaviors
benefit
overlapping
with
contagion,
they
do
so
less
reliably
and
more
selectively.
Together,
suggests
evolution
selected
mechanisms
prepare
animals
dangers
by
using
as
sentinels.
Such
shared
emotions
additionally
can,
under
certain
circumstances,
promote
prosocial
behavior.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
16(1)
Published: Feb. 24, 2025
Affect
sharing,
the
ability
to
vicariously
feel
others'
emotions,
constitutes
primary
component
of
empathy.
However,
neural
basis
for
encoding
distress
and
representing
shared
affective
experiences
remains
poorly
understood.
Here,
using
miniature
endoscopic
calcium
imaging,
we
identify
distinct
dynamic
ensembles
in
anterior
cingulate
cortex
(ACC)
that
encode
observational
fear
across
both
excitatory
inhibitory
neurons
male
mice.
Notably,
discover
population
dynamics
vicarious
freezing
information
are
conserved
ACC
pyramidal
specifically
represented
by
affective,
rather
than
sensory,
responses
direct
pain
experience.
Furthermore,
circuit-specific
imaging
optogenetic
manipulations,
demonstrate
populations
projecting
periaqueductal
gray
(PAG),
but
not
basolateral
amygdala
(BLA),
selectively
convey
regulate
fear.
Taken
together,
our
findings
highlight
critical
role
representations
shaping
empathic
through
pain.
The
affect
sharing
is
fully
authors
show
stably
recruits
fear,
