People Differ in their Speed of Adapting to Fear: Examination of Factors Influencing Varied Responses
A groundbreaking study published in the renowned scientific journal Neuron has shed light on the brain circuits that influence how animals adapt to repeated visual threats, contributing to a deeper understanding of fear plasticity and potentially informing treatments for anxiety-related disorders such as PTSD.
Conducted by Professor Wang Liping and his team at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the study reveals the neural circuit underpinning individual differences in visual escape habituation. These differences are exhibited in two distinct defensive behaviors in mice: sustained rapid escape and rapid habituation.
The team employed advanced techniques, including in vivo multichannel recording, fiber photometry, pupillometry, and optogenetic manipulation, to investigate the role of internal arousal states and individual states in visual escape habituation. Findings show that distinct subcortical pathways from the superior colliculus to the amyggdala and insula cortical pathways govern the two visual escape behaviors seen in two groups of mice.
Two escape behaviors have been identified in the research: sustained rapid escape (T1) and rapid habituation (T2. T1 involves the neural pathway from the superior colliculus to the ventral tegmental area and then to the basolateral amyggdala (BLA), while T2 follows the route from the superior colliculus to the mediodorsal thalamus and then to the BLA. The mediodorsal thalamus integrates inputs from the superior colliculus and insular cortex to regulate arousal and fear responses, while beta oscillations in the BLA modulate fear states.
Dysregulation of innate fear circuits is closely linked to numerous mental health conditions, including phobias, anxiety, and PTSD. Elucidating the neural circuitry underlying innate fear not only deepens our understanding of emotional disorders but also offers promising therapeutic targets for clinical interventions.
Commenting on the study's findings, Professor Wang said, "Our work provides new insights into arousal modulation, internal states, and adaptive responses to visual threats." This research contributes significantly to expanding our understanding of the neural basis of individual differences in fear plasticity, a crucial factor in stress adaptation.
The study, which is accessible in its entirety, was authored by WANG Liping and colleagues and is titled "Neural circuit underlying individual differences in visual escape habituation."
- The groundbreaking study published in Neuron highlights the brain circuits influencing animals' adaptability to recurring visual threats, bolstering our knowledge of fear plasticity and possibly shaping future treatments for disorders like PTSD.
- Distinct subcortical pathways from the superior colliculus, involving the amyggdala and insula cortical pathways, govern the two visual escape behaviors observed in two groups of mice.
- The discovery of two escape behaviors, sustained rapid escape (T1) and rapid habituation (T2), signifies the role of the neural pathway from the superior colliculus to the ventral tegmental area and basolateral amyggdala (BLA) for T1, and the route from the superior colliculus to the mediodorsal thalamus and then to the BLA for T2.
- Beta oscillations in the BLA are fundamental in modulating fear states, while the mediodorsal thalamus integrates inputs from the superior colliculus and insular cortex to regulate arousal and fear responses.
- Dysfunction in innate fear circuits is intricately linked to numerous mental health issues, such as phobias, anxiety, and PTSD, and elucidating the neural circuitry underlying innate fear aids in understanding emotional disorders and identifying potential therapeutic targets for clinical interventions within the domain of mental health and health-and-wellness.
- Neuroscience news regarding this study completed by Professor Wang Liping and his team at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology showcases the significance of investigations related to the neural basis of individual differences in fear plasticity, which plays a pivotal role in stress adaptation, and how they contribute to the advancement of existing therapies-and-treatments for mental health concerns.
