Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
18
Published: Nov. 21, 2024
The
overactivity
of
the
masticatory
muscles
(bruxism
or
teeth
clenching)
is
associated
with
stress
exposure,
and
often
leading
to
consistent
muscle
pain.
However,
neural
mechanism
underlining
it
not
fully
understood.
central
amygdala
(CeA),
which
linked
stress-induced
behaviors
physical
reactions,
projects
directly
mesencephalic
trigeminal
nucleus
(Vme),
crucial
for
oral-motor
coordination.
Thus,
we
hypothesized
that
projections
from
CeA
Vme
could
be
anxiety
jaw
muscles.
After
establishing
an
animal
model
restraint
stress,
found
chronic
lead
noticeable
anxiety-related
behavior,
increased
masseter
activity,
activation
GABAergic
neurons
in
CeA,
opposite
changes
excitability
multipolar
interneurons
pseudounipolar
excitatory
Vme.
Subsequently,
through
utilization
anterograde
transsynaptic
tracing
conjunction
immunofluorescence
staining,
discovered
were
mainly
terminated
on
within
Moreover,
chemogenetically
suppressing
function
effectively
reduce
levels
reverse
increase
activity
induced
by
stress.
And,
specifically
inhibiting
via
optogenetics
hyperactivity
but
anxiety.
In
conclusion,
our
findings
indicate
may
play
important
role
response
Neuron,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
111(23), P. 3854 - 3870.e5
Published: Sept. 22, 2023
The
ability
to
extinguish
fear
responses
stimuli
that
no
longer
predict
danger
is
critical
for
adaptive
behavior
and
increases
the
likelihood
of
survival.
During
extinction,
dopamine
(DA)
neurons
signal
absence
expected
aversive
outcome,
this
extinction
prediction
error
(EPE)
crucial
initiating
driving
learning.
However,
neural
circuits
underlying
EPE
have
remained
elusive.
Here,
we
investigate
input-output
circuitry
EPE-encoding
DA
in
male
mice.
By
employing
projection-specific
fiber
photometry
optogenetics,
demonstrate
these
project
a
restricted
subregion
nucleus
accumbens.
Comprehensive
anatomical
analyses,
as
well
chemogenetic
manipulations
combined
with
recordings
biosensors,
further
uncover
dorsal
raphe
one
key
input
structure
generating
signal.
Together,
our
results
reveal
first
time
functional
architecture
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 7, 2025
Neuromodulatory
signaling
is
poised
to
serve
as
a
neural
mechanism
for
gain
control,
acting
crucial
tuning
factor
influence
neuronal
activity
by
dynamically
shaping
excitatory
and
inhibitory
fast
neurotransmission.
The
endocannabinoid
(eCB)
system,
the
most
widely
expressed
neuromodulatory
system
in
mammalian
brain,
known
filter
inputs
through
retrograde,
pre-synaptic
action.
However,
whether
eCBs
exert
retrograde
control
ultimately
facilitate
reward-seeking
behaviors
freely
moving
mammals
not
established.
Using
suite
of
vivo
physiological,
imaging,
genetic
machine
learning-based
approaches,
we
report
fundamental
role
controlling
behavioral
engagement
behavior
defined
thalamo-striatal
circuit.
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 106090 - 106090
Published: March 1, 2025
Adolescence
is
a
window
of
vulnerability
for
the
development
anxiety
disorders
but
also
opportunity
treatments
to
minimize
long-term
impact
such
disorders.
Current
first-line
treatments,
primarily
exposure-based
cognitive-behavioral
therapy
(CBT),
have
limited
efficacy
in
adolescents.
The
urgent
need
more
effective
interventions
underscored
by
frequent
reports
extinction
impairments
adolescents
as
well
rising
rates
youth,
particularly
post-COVID-19.
Preclinical
research
on
learned
fear
may
contribute
developing
better
treatment
approaches
this
age
group.
Unfortunately,
still
largely
under-explored
area.
However,
both
pharmacological
and
behavioral
augmentation
strategies
can
be
used
enhance
learning
consolidation.
Here
we
describe
work
exploring
adjuncts,
focusing
pre-clinical
with
rodents.
Much
date
shows
striking
developmental
differences
response
various
only
few
shown
Further,
recent
experience
stress
reduces
these
adolescence.
This
review
highlights
necessity
tailored
strategies,
especially
when
it
comes
that
address
drug
responses
stressful
experiences
efficacy.
Molecular Brain,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
18(1)
Published: March 5, 2025
Animals
adaptively
regulate
aversive
memories
in
safe
environments
through
extinction,
a
process
central
to
exposure
therapy
for
anxiety
disorders.
The
limbic
thalamus
controls
cognitive
function
concert
with
interconnected
cortical
and
structures.
Though
medial
prefrontal
(mPFC)
afferents
the
memory,
functional
role
of
efferents
mPFC
is
unclear.
Here,
we
investigated
roles
thalamic
nuclei,
reuniens
(RE)
mediodorsal
(MD)
thalamus,
projecting
cortex
memory
conditioning
extinction
male
mice.
Using
retrograde
tracing,
demonstrated
that
ventromedial
PFC
(vmPFC)-
dorsomedial
(dmPFC)-projecting
neurons
are
topologically
segregated
within
RE
MD.
Fiber
photometry
revealed
both
RE→vmPFC
MD→vmPFC
respond
stimuli.
Notably,
develop
shock-associated
cue
(CS+)
response
during
conditioning.
During
exhibited
biphasic
CS+,
while
showed
no
cue-evoked
activity.
Neither
optogenetic
activation
nor
inactivation
these
populations
altered
freezing
behavior
compared
controls.
Collectively,
findings
indicate
encode
information
but
dispensable
behavioral
modulation.
This
study
highlights
distinct
contributions
thalamus-PFC
circuits
processing.
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
18
Published: March 12, 2025
As
mobile
phones
and
communication
base
stations
become
more
widespread,
concerns
have
arisen
regarding
the
potential
risks
of
environmental
exposure
to
multi-frequency
electromagnetic
radiation
(EMR)
its
effects
on
mental
health.
To
address
these
concerns,
our
study
established
a
dual-frequency
EMR
mouse
model
at
0.8/2.65
GHz
explore
molecular
mechanisms
intervention
targets.
Our
results
revealed
that
this
significantly
induced
anxiety-like
behavior
in
mice.
Molecular
experiments
further
showed
significant
decrease
cannabinoid
receptor
type
1
(CB1R)
levels
medial
prefrontal
cortex
(mPFC)
mice,
along
with
notable
reduction
endogenous
cannabinoids
2-arachidonoylglycerol
anandamide.
This
led
downregulation
entire
endocannabinoid
system
(ECS).
Additional
confirmation
was
obtained
by
overexpressing
knocking
down
CB1R
mPFC.
We
found
increasing
mPFC
could
effectively
reduce
behavior,
while
decreasing
exacerbated
it.
Furthermore,
we
change
ECS
basolateral
amygdala
(BLA).
Notably,
female
mice
exhibited
similar
behavioral
phenotypes
response
EMR.
In
summary,
demonstrates
anxiety
is
closely
linked
function
BLA,
expression
plays
role
modulating
emotional
Brain Research Bulletin,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
225, P. 111335 - 111335
Published: April 8, 2025
The
pathogenesis
of
depression
is
fundamentally
linked
to
the
dysregulation
neural
circuit
structure
and
function.
Notably,
medial
prefrontal
cortex
(mPFC)
basolateral
amygdala
(BLA)
are
critical
brain
regions
in
regulation
depression-related
behaviors.
Depressed
rats
exhibited
attenuated
messaging
between
mPFC
BLA,
along
with
abnormally
enhanced
theta
oscillations
BLA
during
execution
an
exploratory
task.
However,
whether
specific
activation
improves
behavior
recovery
mediated
by
mPFC-BLA
circuitry
unknown.
We
modeled
using
chronic
unpredictable
mild
stimulation
(CUMS)
employed
chemogenetic
approaches
selectively
activate
glutamatergic
neurons
depressed
rats.
Through
simultaneous
monitoring
behavioral
patterns
local
field
potentials
(LFPs)
both
open-field
exploration,
we
conducted
comparative
analyses
chemogenetically
activated
sham-stimulated
groups.
Our
investigation
focused
on
oscillation
dynamics,
network
connectivity
strength,
interregional
information
transfer
behavior.
results
demonstrated
that
not
only
ameliorated
deficits
but
also
mPFC-to-BLA
while
attenuating
oscillations.
These
findings
suggest
restoration
flow
may
play
a
crucial
role
improving
behavior,
thereby
revealing
potential
mechanism
underlying
depressive
state
modulation.