Role of amygdala in conditioned and unconditioned fear generated in the periaqueductal gray

Neuroreport
Luciana C OliveiraJ Landeira-Fernandez

Abstract

The amygdala and ventral portion of the periaqueductal gray (vPAG) are crucial for the expression of the contextual freezing behavior. However, it is still unclear whether the amygdala also plays a role in defensive behaviors induced by electrical stimulation of the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG). In the present study, rats were implanted with electrodes into dPAG for determination of the thresholds for freezing and escape responses before and after sham or electrolytic lesions in the amygdala. Animals were then submitted to a context fear conditioning procedure. Amygdala lesions disrupted contextual freezing but did not affect defensive behaviors induced by dPAG electrical stimulation. These results indicate that contextual and unconditioned freezing behaviors are mediated by independent neural circuits.

References

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Citations

Mar 7, 2012·Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research = Revista Brasileira De Pesquisas Médicas E Biológicas·J C BrenesM L Brandão
Jan 6, 2007·Psychopharmacology·Luciana Chrystine OliveiraMarcus Lira Brandão
Dec 29, 2012·Brain Research·Jesse M S Ellis, Lauren V Riters
Jun 5, 2012·Neurobiology of Learning and Memory·Janine L KwapisFred J Helmstetter
Apr 8, 2010·European Journal of Pharmacology·Richard M O'ConnorJohn F Cryan
Jun 26, 2008·European Journal of Pharmacology·Milton A V AvilaVanessa M Castilho
Apr 22, 2008·Behavioural Brain Research·David N Ruskin, Gerald J Lahoste
Dec 14, 2007·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·Ana Carolina BroizMarcus Lira Brandão
Apr 3, 2007·European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Raquel Chacon Ruiz MartinezMarcus Lira Brandão
Oct 29, 2005·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·Thomas Jhou
Nov 28, 2006·Behavioural Brain Research·Carlos Eduardo MacedoMarcus Lira Brandão
Aug 9, 2005·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Marcus Lira BrandãoRaquel Chacon Martinez
Apr 10, 2013·Neurobiology of Learning and Memory·M C CarvalhoM L Brandão
Aug 12, 2016·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Patrick A ForcelliLudise Malkova

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