Impaired fear inhibition in adolescence

该项目旨在测试青少年大脑的不平衡是否会损害恐惧调节。最近的证据表明，青少年，无论是啮齿动物还是人类，都不能有效地抑制恐惧。该项目将系统地分离特定神经回路的作用，通过在青春期大鼠的恐惧抑制过程中以细胞类型特异性的方式选择性地操纵它们的活动。了解在发育的脆弱时期损害恐惧调节的神经过程可能会导致更完整的青春期恐惧调节神经生物学理论，并改善对焦虑青年的治疗。

This project aims to test whether an imbalance in the adolescent brain impairs fear regulation. Recent evidence shows that adolescents, both rodent and human, do not effectively inhibit fear. This project will systematically isolate the role of specific neural circuits by selectively manipulating their activity in a cell type specific manner during fear inhibition in adolescent rats. Understanding neural processes that impair fear regulation during a vulnerable period of development could lead to a more complete neurobiological theory of fear regulation in adolescence, and improve treatments for anxious youth.