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

杏仁核被认为是处理包括焦虑和恐惧在内的情绪行为记忆的主要神经回路之一，也是大脑中处理应激反应的关键组成部分之一。因此，我们将研究正常和应激条件下杏仁核内血清素能信号通路在厌恶学习和消退中的作用。通过光激活G蛋白偶联受体（GPCR），我们将光遗传学控制杏仁核恐惧记忆形成和灭绝学习过程中小白蛋白阳性中间神经元和谷氨酸能锥体神经元的5条HT2A/2C受体信号通路。我们想研究这些受体如何在正常和应激条件下调节恐惧条件反射、消退、更新和恢复。

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.