Interaction between stress and serotonergic signaling pathways to modulate extinction learning in the amygdala (A07)

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The amygdala has been identified as one of the main neuronal circuits involved in the processing of memories of emotional behavior including anxiety and fear and is one of the key components in the brain for processing stress responses. Thus, we will investigate the role of serotonergic signaling pathways within the amygdala for aversive learning and extinction under normal and stress conditions. By using light-activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), we will optogenetically control 5 HT2A/2C receptor signaling pathways in parvalbumin positive interneurons and glutamatergic pyramidal neurons during fear memory formation and extinction learning in the amygdala. We want to investigate how these receptors modulate fear conditioning, extinction, renewal and reinstatement under normal and stress conditions.