恐惧情绪的学习、记忆与再现对于生物体预知危险极为重要。杏仁核是恐惧情绪相关神经环路的关键组成部分。不断积累的证据表明，外侧中央核（CeL）内局部抑制性环路的可塑性，以及该环路对位于内侧中央核（CeM）的输出神经元的去抑制调控在恐惧记忆与再现过程中发挥了关键作用。外侧中央核内主要存在的两类细胞，在恐惧条件化后，分别对条件化刺激做出兴奋性（CS-ON）和抑制性（CS-OFF）的反应。这两类细胞组成的复杂网络的可塑性参与了编码恐惧记忆的过程，但具体的网络动态变化过程尚不清楚。我们计划通过结合钙成像，膜片钳记录和光遗传学的方法，对中央杏仁核内神经环路可塑性编码恐惧记忆的动态过程进行研究，帮助人们更好的了解恐惧记忆形成的内在机制

Learning，consolidation and representation of fear are very important for animals to preceive danger. Amygdala is an important component in the neural circuit which is used for learning and expressing fear. Accumulative results suggesting, the plasticity of the local inhibitory circuit in the CeL and the disinhibition which is provided by neural network in the CeL to the CeM output neurons play a key role during the formation of fear momery. There are two types of neurons in the CeL. After fear conditioning, under a conditioned stimulation one type becomes exciting and the other type is inhibited. The local network comprised by these two kinds of neurons is involved in the encoding process of fear memory. But the dynamic change of the network remains unclear. We plan to combine calcium imaging, patch clamp recording and optogenetics to investigate the circuitry plasticity in the central amygdala during the fear learning. Our work will help people to understand the mechanism underlie the formation of fear memory.